Bible (Bishops')/Titus

Chapter 1
Paul a seruaunt of God, & an Apostle of Iesus Christe, according to the fayth of Gods elect, & the knowledge of ye trueth, whiche is after godlynesse,

In the hope of eternall lyfe, which God that can not lye, promised before the worlde began:

But hath made manifest his worde, at ye time appoynted through preaching, which is committed vnto me, according to the ordinaunce of God our sauiour:

To Titus a natural sonne after the common fayth: Grace, mercie, peace, from God the father, and the Lorde Iesus Christe our sauiour.

For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest refourme ye thynges that are left, and ordayne elders in euerye citie, as I had appoynted thee:

If any be blamelesse, the husbande of one wyfe, hauyng faythfull chyldren, not accusable of riote, or vntractable.

For a bishop must be blamelesse, as the stewarde of God: not stubborne, not angry, not geuen to wyne, no striker, not geuen to filthie lucre:

But a louer of hospitalitie, a louer of goodnes, sober, ryghteous, godly, temperate,

Holdyng fast the faythfull worde, which is accordyng to doctrine, that he may be able both to exhort in wholsome doctrine, and to improue them that say agaynst it.

For there are many vnruly, and vayne talkers, and deceauers of myndes, specially they [that are] of ye circumcision,

Whose mouthes must be stopped, which subuert whole houses, teachyng thynges which they ought not, for fylthie lucre sake.

One of them selues [euen] a prophete of their owne, sayde: The Crettans [are] alwayes lyers, euyll beastes, slowe bellyes.

This witnesse is true: wherfore rebuke them sharpely that they may be founde in the fayth,

Not takyng heede to Iewes fables and comaundementes of men, turnyng from the trueth.

Unto the pure, [are] all thynges pure: but vnto them that are defyled and vnbeleuyng, [is] nothyng pure, but euen the mynde and conscience of them is defyled.

They confesse that they knowe God: but with workes they denie hym, seyng they are abhominable and disobedient, and vnto euery good worke reprobate.

Chapter 2
But speake thou the thynges which become wholsome doctrine.

That the elder men be watchyng, graue, sober, sounde in fayth, in loue, in pacience:

The elder women lykewyse, that they be in such behauiour as becometh holynesse, not false accusers, not geuen to much wine, teachers of good thinges,

To make the young women sober mynded, to loue their husbandes, to loue their chyldren,

(To be) discrete, chaste, house kepers, good, obedient vnto their owne husbandes, that the worde of God be not blasphemed.

Young men lykewyse exhort, to be sober mynded.

In all thynges shewyng thy selfe a paterne of good workes, in the doctrine, vncorruptnesse, grauitie, integritie,

Wholsome worde, vnrebukeable, that he which withstandeth, may be ashamed, hauyng no euyll thyng to say of you.

[Exhort] seruauntes, to be obedient vnto their owne maisters, and to please them in all thynges, not aunsweryng agayne:

Neither pickers, but shewing all good faythfulnesse, that they may adourne the doctrine of God our sauiour in all thynges.

For there hath appeared the grace of God [which is] healthful to all men,

Teachyng vs, that denying vngodlynesse and worldly lustes, we shoulde lyue soberlie and ryghteouslie, and godlie in this present worlde:

Lokyng for that blessed hope and appearyng of the glorie of the great God, and our sauiour Iesus Christe,

Which gaue hym selfe for vs, that he myght redeeme vs from all vnryghteousnesse, and pourge vs a peculier people vnto hym selfe, zelous of good workes.

These thynges speake and exhort, and rebuke with all aucthoritie. Let no man dispise thee.

Chapter 3
Warne them to be subiect to rule & power, to obey magistrates, to be redie to euery good worke:

To blaspheme no man, to be no fyghters, [but] gentle, shewyng all mekenesse vnto all men.

For we our selues also were some tyme foolyshe, disobedient, deceaued, seruyng diuers lustes & voluptuousnes, lyuyng in maliciousnesse and enuie, full of hate, hatyng one another.

But after that the kyndenesse and loue of our sauiour God to manwarde appeared,

Not of workes which [be] in ryghteousnesse wrought, but accordyng to his mercie, he saued vs by the fountayne of regeneration and renuyng of the holy ghost,

Which he shed on vs richlie through Iesus Christe our sauiour:

That we iustified by his grace, should be made heyres accordyng to the hope of eternall lyfe.

[This is] a faythfull saying: And of these thynges I wyll that thou confirme, that they which haue beleued in God, myght be carefull to shewe foorth good workes. These thynges are good and profitable vnto men.

But foolishe questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striuinges about the lawe, auoyde: for they are vnprofitable and vayne.

A man that is an aucthour of sectes, after the first and the seconde admonition, auoyde:

Knowyng, that he that is such, is subuerted and sinneth, beyng dampned of hym selfe.

When I shall sende Artemas vnto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come vnto me vnto Nicopolis: For I haue determined there to wynter.

Bryng Zenas the lawyer, & Apollos, on their iourney diligently, that nothing be lackyng vnto them.

And let ours also learne to excell in good workes to necessarie vses, that they be not vnfruitefull.

All that are with me, salute thee. Greete them that loue vs in the fayth. Grace be with you all. Amen. [Written from Nicopolis, (a citie) of Macedonia.]