1:1 From Paul, 1 a slave 2 of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith 3 of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. 4 1:3 But now in his own time 5 he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. 1:4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 1:6 An elder must be blameless, 6 the husband of one wife, 7 with faithful children 8 who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. 1:7 For the overseer 9 must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, 10 not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. 1:8 Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, 11 so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching 12 and correct those who speak against it.
1:10 For there are many 13 rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 14 1:11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. 1:12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 15 1:13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith 1:14 and not pay attention to Jewish myths 16 and commands of people who reject the truth. 1:15 All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 1:16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
1:1 From Paul, 17 a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 18 and Timothy our 19 brother, to Philemon, our dear friend 20 and colaborer, 1:2 to Apphia 21 our sister, 22 to Archippus our 23 fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. 1:3 Grace and peace to you 24 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
1:4 I always thank my God 25 as I remember you in my prayers, 26 1:5 because I hear 27 of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love 28 for all the saints. 29 1:6 I pray 30 that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing 31 that belongs to you 32 in Christ. 33 1:7 I 34 have had great joy and encouragement because 35 of your love, for the hearts 36 of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 1:9 I would rather appeal 37 to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man 38 and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus 39 – 1:10 I am appealing 40 to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become 41 during my imprisonment, 42 that is, Onesimus, 1:11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you 43 and me. 1:12 I have sent 44 him (who is my very heart) 45 back to you. 1:13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place 46 during 47 my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. 48 1:14 However, 49 without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. 1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, 50 1:16 no longer as a slave, 51 but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking 52 and in the Lord. 1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes 53 to me. 1:19 I, Paul, have written 54 this letter 55 with my own hand: 56 I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe 57 me your very self. 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 58 1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than 59 what I am asking you to do. 1:22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
1:23 Epaphras, 60 my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. 1:24 Mark, Aristarchus, 61 Demas 62 and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. 1:25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be 63 with your spirit. 64