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Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
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in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
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but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
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To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
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For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--
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if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
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For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
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but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
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holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
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For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
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whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
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One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
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This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,