መልእክተ፡ ጳውሎስ፡ ኀበ፡ ቲቶ፡

Epistle of Paul to Titus — Anonymous Chapter 1 Concerning Titus From Paul, servant of God and his apostle, of Jesus Christ, in the faith of his chosen ones of God, and in the knowledge of righteousness, which is by the righteousness of God. And in the hope of eternal life, which God has granted. Which does not cease from the creation of the world. And he manifested his word in his time, in our preaching of her. And he entrusted me over him by the commandment of God our Savior. To Titus, my son whom I love in affection and in faith, peace to you, and grace and mercy from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Concerning the office of the priesthood. For because of this, I left you in Crete so that you might set in order what remains, and appoint priests for each city as I commanded you. A man who has one wife, a chosen one. Who has not been defiled by evil, who has faithful children. Who do not associate with them in wickedness, those who are not reprobate, those who are chaste.

And the upright one shall be appointed bishop, who has no blemish, who is blameless, like the steward of God, who is of mature age, of sound mind, who is not given to much drinking of wine, and who does not quickly stretch out his hand to take, and who does not love base gain. The lover of good works, whose conduct is excellent, who is pure in himself, righteous and good, and gentle, patient, who teaches, who is skilled in the word of faith. Who is able to reprove through the teaching of life, and who will refute those who contradict. The ordinance concerning those who are not obedient. For many are those who are not obedient, and their words are false, and they corrupt the hearts of the simple. And moreover, for those from among the Jews who are upright, they will stop their mouths. For these destroy all houses and teach what is not fitting, what brings them loss. And now, one of them said, their prophet concerning them: For the people of Crete are liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons, evil, belly-servants. And this testimony is true against them.

Concerning this, they have passed over it, being cut off, as they seek in faith. And they do not bring in the custom and ordinance of men which is contrary to righteousness. For he who is wholly pure is for the pure; but for the impure, those who do not believe, there is nothing pure for them. For their mind and heart are impure, and they believe that they know the Lord, and they conceal Him by their deeds, being impure and liars and hypocrites in every good deed. Chapter 2 Ordinance concerning the life of Christians. And you, speak what is fitting for the teaching of life. The laity shall be pure from sin, and vigilant, and wise. And they shall not be negligent in faith; they shall love and clothe themselves and be chaste. The clergy likewise shall be sanctified and shall adorn their bodies, and shall not pervert the word. And they shall not be given to drink, nor shall they be given to drunkenness. Rather, they shall rebuke and teach good doctrine to women, that they may purify themselves. And the noble women shall love their husbands and their children.

They do not do good, nor do they establish their custom and ordinance. And they are commanded for their lies, as if no one adds to the word of God concerning them. And for the novices, they rebuke them to purify themselves and to be wise. And their being is an example for all in good works. And let your speech and your teaching be in pure and upright speech, which has no blemish, which no one can reproach, so that the enemy may be ashamed and the one who reads against us may err. The inhabitants also are commanded for their masters and serve them in everything. And they do not cut off nor are they divided in anything. But they establish their pure faith, so that they may instruct everyone in the teaching of God our Savior. For the grace of God is known among all people. And it teaches us to contend against sin and against the lusts of the world, and to live in righteousness, purity, and love in this world. While we await the fullness and the coming of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

They hide their head from us as if they would save us from sin, and they purify for themselves a new people who are adorned with good works. Thus this word and command and tradition, while you bow your head to everyone, and there is no one who will lead you astray. Chapter 3 Concerning the Work of Teachers Remember the ancients and the judges, that they may be commanded in all good works and be righteous in that place. And they shall not be angry nor boastful, but they shall be merciful and gentle with all people. For we also are the dust of our fathers without understanding, and we are liars and erring and inclined to desire and to the passion of this world, and we are perverted to evil and to envy and we are covetous and hostile and vengeful. And when the mercy of God, the lover of humanity, our Savior, appeared, Not by our works of righteousness, but by his mercy he saved us, by the baptism of second birth and renewal in the Holy Spirit. Which he poured upon us by his will, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

so that we may be justified by his grace and receive the hope of eternal life. This is the true matter, and concerning this I also desire to strengthen them, so that they may remain steadfast in every good work, those who have believed in God. This is the good that benefits a person. The word of the Geʿez and the evil that they create, and the new teaching and the tradition, I have rejected them, for it is vain and does not benefit. For a man who is to be corrected, like a calf and a sheep, I have shorn and rejected him. And I know that he is a transgressor; like him, he will err and go astray and receive punishment. The seal of the epistle. And as I sent Artemon or Tychicus to you, quickly come to me in the city of Nicopolis, for I have spent the winter there. For Zemas, the city scribe, and Apollos, I have honored them greatly, and they lack nothing. And the others also learn good teaching, by which the saints stand in the work that is permitted, so that they may not miss the fruit.

I have believed with all those who believe with me. May the grace of faith be with all of you who love us. Amen.