Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

TITUS, my son, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all
men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to
live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our
blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior
Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity
and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for
good deeds.

Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one
disregard you.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but
in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and
become heirs in hope of eternal life.

TITUS, my son, to the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure

St. Paul's Letter to Titus 1:15-16; 2:1-10

TITUS, my son, to the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and
unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are
detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed.

But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. Bid the older men
be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in
steadfastness. Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to
be slanderous or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good,
and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to
be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their
husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited. Likewise urge the
younger men to control themselves. Show yourself in all respects a model
of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and
sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to
shame, having nothing evil to say to us. Bid slaves to be submissive to
their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not
to be refractory, nor to pilfer, but to show entire and true
fidelity, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our
Savior.

"Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

St. Paul's Letter to Titus 1:5-14

TITUS, my son, appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any
man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are
believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate.
For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be
arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright,
holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as
taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and
also to confute those who contradict it. For there are many
insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers especially the circumcision
party; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by
teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach. One of
themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, instead of giving heed to
Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.

"Avoid foolish questions." - Titus 3:9

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to "avoid foolish questions."

Letter to Titus 3:8-15

TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these
things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply
themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But
avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over
the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is
factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with
him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is
self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at
Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to
speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack
nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so
as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in
the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.