⁵ I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you; ⁶ Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled. ⁷ For it is necessary for a Bishop to be a man of virtue, as God's servant; not pushing himself forward, not quickly moved to wrath or blows, not desiring profit for himself; ⁸ But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled; ⁹ Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters.

¹⁰ For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped. ¹² One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.

¹³ This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that they may come to the right faith, ¹⁴ Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.

¹⁵ To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought. ¹⁶ They say that they have knowledge of God, while by their acts they are turning their backs on him; they are hated by all, hard-hearted, and judged to be without value for any good work.