Remind them to be subject to rulers and ¹  authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.

For the overseer ¹  must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, ²  not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.

They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹ 

But now in his own time ¹  he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.