Titus 

   
Cotton Patch Version
    

Introduction

1.         From Paul, God’s slave, Jesus Christ s agent. My business is the faith of God’s special people and their understanding of the truth, so that they may have a genuine devotion based on confidence in spiritual life. Before the age of time, the ever truthful God was pregnant with this life. And in his own good time, he brought it forth in the great story which, by orders of our Savior-God, was entrusted to me.

            To Titus, a true son in a common faith.

            Grace and peace from Father-God and from Christ Jesus, our Savior.

5.         The reason I left you in Arkansas was that you might tie up the loose ends there and organize some key men in each city. Just as I instructed you, such a man should be above reproach, faithful to his wife, and have loyal children who don’t have a reputation for delinquency and running wild. For as manager of God’s house, it is absolutely essential that the supervisor himself be above reproach, not stuck on himself, or short-tempered, or a wino, or a bully, or a money-lover. Instead he should be friendly to strangers, on the side of the good, sensible, decent, devoted and disciplined. He must have a good grasp of the Christian faith so as to be able both to instruct others with sound teachings and to give the right answers to those on the other side of the fence. And believe you me, there are plenty of the latter, especially among the religious people. They are unbridled, smooth-talking windbags whose mouths must be stopped. They are converting whole house-holds by holding "revivals" just to collect the "love offerings." One of them - in fact, one of their own evangelists - has said: "Some Arkansans are born liars, low-down brutes, lazy gluttons." This statement is correct. And because it is, let them have it straight from the shoulder, so that they might be spiritually healthy and not hold on to religious myths and to the traditions of a society that hides its face from the truth.

15.         To the clean-hearted all things seem clean, but to the filthy and faithless, nothing looks clean, because both their minds and consciences are dirty. They pretend to know God, but their lives deny it. They are stinkers, disobedient and not fit for anything worthwhile.

1.         Now you, Titus, speak out on clear Christian issues. Help the adult men to stay on the wagon, to be dignified, wise and solid in the faith, in love and in steadfastness. Likewise, help the adult women to behave like saints and not devils, not to be addicted to drink but to be well-mannered, that they might train the young women to be husband-lovers, child-lovers and not flighty, to be sincere, to be good housekeepers, just plain good, and obedient to their own husbands, so as to cast no reflection on God s word.

6.         In the same manner encourage the young men to be levelheaded, and you yourself lead the way on all these matters as an example of proper behavior. Do not compromise on Christian principles. Be upright and let your talk be so sound that they can’t throw it back in your teeth. The opponent will then feel sheepish when he finds he has no criticism to level at us.

9.         Let the workers be cooperative with their bosses on all matters and try to please them without a lot of back talk. They should not kill time on the job, but should prove that they are completely loyal and good, in order that they might beautify the teachings of our Savior-God in every way.

11.         For God’s undeserved kindness has burst in upon us, bringing a new lease on life for all mankind. It is challenging us to turn our backs on junk religion and worldly cravings, and to live wisely and rightly and devoutly right here and now. Thus we constantly anticipate the marvelous hope and the bursting in of the wonder of the great God and our Savior, Christ Jesus. He gave himself for us, that he might cut us loose from every bad habit and purge us until we are clearly a Christian group bent on doing right. These are the things you re to talk about, to preach on and to insist on with all your authority. And don’t take any sass from anybody.

1.         Don’t let them forget that they are to accept the authority of governing officials and obey them, to be on call for every worthwhile task, and to smear no one. They are to be nonviolent and level-headed, and extending every courtesy to all men. For we too were once crazy, rebellious, hoodwinked, addicted to the whole works of sex and "fun," leading lives of wickedness and boredom, hating our own guts and hating each other. But then, when a sense of responsibility and human concern burst upon us from our Savior-God - not because we ourselves were so smart but because he was kind to us - he put us on the right track by completely making us over and giving us a new outlook. This came from the Holy Spirit which he so generously poured out on us through Jesus Christ, our Savior. This means that we have been set right by his undeserved favor and have become participants in a spiritual life that has purpose.

8.         What I’ve told you is absolutely correct, and I want you to really put your foot down on these matters. Those who have rested their weight on God will then be encouraged to be responsible for good deeds. Such behavior is not only excellent but also beneficial to people. But silly slogans and reports and "isms" and theological fights, you should shun like the plague, for they are useless and senseless. After one or two attempts to straighten out a bigot, excuse him. Realize that such a fellow has been brainwashed and is sinning, he himself being his own evidence.

12.         When I send either Art or Tic to you, hurry and come to me at New Orleans, for I’ve decided to stay there through the winter. Do all you can to help professors Smith and Oliver on their way, so that they do not lack anything. Let our people be trained to be responsible for proper actions in meeting urgent needs, lest they become uninvolved.

15.         All here join me in sending greetings to you. Say hello to those who love us as Christian brothers.

Best wishes to you all,
Paul

©1968 by Clarence Jordan. Used by permission of Koinonia Partners
This translation by Dr. Jordan is based on the Nestle-Aland Greek text, twenty third edition (1957).

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