Paul's Letter to Titus
Titus 1
1. Paul, the servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ in the faith of God's elect and in the knowledge of truth in submission to God,
2. Regarding the Hope of everlasting life that the true God instituted before the ages of the universe,
3. And revealed His Manifestation in due course* also through my preaching, that which I believe in by the command of our Life-giving God --
4. To Titus, true child of deep abiding faith -- grace and peace from our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, Our Life-giver.
5. Because of that I left you in Crete, so that you may recruit those who suffered loss,*
6. But they should not be temperamental; they should be the husband of one woman, who do not have rebellious children that are totally lacking the [latent] devotion of the prodigal.
7. For the priest who is not temperamental is also caring, like a divine nurturer, and he or she should not be ill tempered and they should not drink excessively and they should not be in a hurry to strike someone and they should not be graceful toward contributions from evil people,
8. Except they should be merciful toward strangers and graceful toward good deeds, they should be polite and righteous, and they should be holy and rid themselves of lusts,
9. And they should do their very best regarding the knowledge of the Manifestation of Faith, so as they may be able to also uplift the hearts of others with the wholesome knowledge and [be in a position] to recover those who stray away.
10. For there are many who do not adhere [to the faith,] whose words are critical and they mislead the people's opinions, especially those of the circumcised,
11. Those whose duty it is to close their mouth, for they have demoralized many households, as they teach what is not Lawful for the sake of evil gain.
12. One of their prophets said, "Cretians lie in every season, they are savages* and freeloaders*."
13. And this is a true testimony,* therefore be tough in your admonitions on their behalf, so as they may recover their faith.
14. And so they will not revert to the outdated holocausts* of the Jews, and the dictates* of humanity, those that hate the truth.
15. For everything that is pure is for the pure; however, to those who are inveterate unbelievers, there is nothing pure, except all their opinions and their very conscious is rotten.
16. And they confess that they know God, however, with their actions they curse Him, and they are hateful, intolerant and degrading toward everyone who does good.
*1:3 Lit. Ar. id.: "His season."
*1:5 As a result of the persecutions of the Christian community.
*1:12.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Evil creatures," or beasts.
*1:12.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Idle stomachs," loiterers, beggars, gougers, or moochers.
*1:14.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression retained: "There's a grain of truth in this ..."
*1:14.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Commandments."
Titus 2
1. You, however, preach that which embellishes the wholesome knowledge,
2. And teach the priests, so as to be cognizant in their opinions and polite, pure and wholesome in Faith, in love and the preaching of the Hope [in the Kingdom.]
3. And likewise the women priests, so as they may follow the same system, that which promotes the submission to God, and that they should not be devilish or wont to excessive drinking of wine, instead they should be beautiful teachers,
4. And an example of humility to the younger women in their compassion for their husbands and children,
5. And to be polite and holy, and to be wonderful advisers in their homes and devoted to their husbands, so as no one* should swear against the Manifestation of God.
6. And beg those of them who are young to be polite.
7. In every way show them how to behave like you then, in every blessed act and when you teach, teach the wholesome manifestation,
8. Of politeness and not the unruly, so as no one* should detract from it, so as those who stand against us may be ashamed, as they will have nothing unworthy to say against us.
9. The servants shall be devoted to their Master in everything, and they shall adore Him and not be stubborn.
10. And they should not steal, except show their true blessings in everything, so that they may confirm in everything the knowledge of our Life-giving God.
11. For God's blessing is revealed, He is the Resurrection of all humanity,
12. And it behooves us that we should curse the sensations and lusts of the world, and that we live in this world politely, righteously and in submission to God,
13. As we grasp onto the blessed Hope [of the Kingdom,] and the Revelation of God's glory, our Master and Life-giver Jesus Christ,
14. He who gave Himself on our behalf to save us from every abomination and to purify us for Himself, a new people whom He shall sanctify through good deeds.
15. Preach these things and pray for them, and be righteous in every command, and no one can detract from you.
*2:5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "No human being."
*2:8 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human being."
Titus 3
1. And remind them to heed and adhere to the leadership and authorities [of the church,] and to anticipate every blessed deed,
2. To curse no human being, or be belligerent, except to be gentle, and to show their pleasure through everything toward all humanity.
3. For we also had no idea* in the old days,* and we were with no direction,* lost, and we were followers of changing trends and pleasures, and went about wickedly, and contentiously, hating others and one another.4. Then as the pleasure and mercy of our Life-giving God were revealed,8.Faithful is the Manifestation, and with these also I wish that you should confirm them, that they do their utmost to perform good deeds, those that believe in God, those acts that are blessed and enriching to humanity.
5. And not because of any acts of holiness that we performed,
... but because of His mercy,
He resurrected us by baptizing us in a new birth from the beginning,
... and by the rejoicing of the Holy Spirit,
6. That which He poured over us over flowingly
... by the hand of Jesus Christ our Life-giver,*
7. So as we may be sanctified by His grace
... and become heirs by the preaching of the Hope of everlasting life.*
9. Alight from foolish prayers and tribal traditions, from vehemence and the arguments of scribes, for there is no benefit in them; they are empty.
10. Alight from the heretical man, after [vainly] trying to educate him for a season or two.
11. And henceforth you should know him, as he shall persist in committing sin -- he is responsible for himself.
12. When I send Artemas or Tichycus to you, do not waste your time coming to Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter here.
13. With respect to Zena the scribe, and Apollos, do your best to supply them well, so they will not be short of provisions.
14. And so they may also teach ours that they should perform good deeds with desperate hopes, so as they may not be without fruit.
15. All those who are with me say shalom, saying shalom to all those who regard us with the compassion of Faith. May Grace be with you all, amen.(The end of the Letter to Titus that was written from Nicopolis.)
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*3:3.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Were without council."
*3:3.2 Lit. Ar. idiom.: "From old."
*3:3.3 Lit. Ar. figure of speech: "Permission."
*3:6 Lit. Ar. id.: Or "Savior."
*3:7 Lit. Ar. id.: "Life to the end of the universe."
Translated by Victor Alexander ©2001