Titus 3:8

Summary of the Letter

3:8 This saying ¹  is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, ²  so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.

Titus 3:12

Final Instructions and Greeting

3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

Titus 1:10

1:10 For there are many ³  rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, ⁴ 

Titus 1:7

1:7 For the overseer ⁵  must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, ⁶  not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.

Titus 1:11

1:11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.

Titus 1:16

1:16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Titus 1:2

1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. ⁷ 

Titus 1:5

Titus’ Task on Crete

1:5 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.

Titus 1:12

1:12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ⁸ 

Titus 2:8

2:8 and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, ⁹  because he has nothing evil to say about us.

Titus 3:1

Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church

3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and ¹⁰  authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.

Titus 3:7

3:7 And so, ¹¹  since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” ¹² 

Titus 3:14

3:14 Here is another way that our people ¹³  can learn ¹⁴  to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.

Titus 1:15

1:15 All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

Titus 2:14

2:14 He ¹⁵  gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, ¹⁶  who are eager to do good. ¹⁷ 

[3:8]  ¹ sn This saying (Grk “the saying”) refers to the preceding citation (Titus 3:4-7). See 1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11 for other occurrences of this phrase.

[3:8]  ² tn Grk “concerning these things.”

[1:10]  ³ tc ‡ The earliest and best mss lack καί (kai) after πολλοί (polloi; so א A C P 088 81 104 365 614 629 630 al sy co), though the conjunction is found in several significant witnesses, chiefly of the Western and Byzantine texts (D F G I Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï lat). Although it is possible that some scribes omitted the word, thinking it was superfluous, it is also possible that others added the conjunction for clarification. Judging by the pedigree of the witnesses and the inconclusiveness of the internal evidence, the shorter reading is considered to be most likely original. NA²⁷ puts the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.

[1:10]  ⁴ tn Grk “those of the circumcision.” Some translations take this to refer to Jewish converts to Christianity (cf. NAB “Jewish Christians”; TEV “converts from Judaism”; CEV “Jewish followers”) while others are less clear (cf. NLT “those who insist on circumcision for salvation”).

[1:7]  ⁵ sn The overseer is another term for the same official position of leadership as the “elder.” This is seen in the interchange of the two terms in this passage and in Acts 20:17, 28, as well as in the parallels between these verses and 1 Tim 3:1-7.

[1:7]  ⁶ tn Grk “as God’s steward.”

[1:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “before eternal ages.”

[1:12]  ⁸ sn A saying attributed to the poet Epimenides of Crete (6th century b.c.).

[2:8]  ⁹ tn Or “put to shame.”

[3:1]  ¹⁰ tc Most later witnesses (D² 0278 Ï lat sy) have καί (kai, “and”) after ἀρχαῖς (arcai", “rulers”), though the earliest and best witnesses (א A C D* F G Ψ 33 104 1739 1881) lack the conjunction. Although the καί is most likely not authentic, it has been added in translation due to the requirements of English style. For more discussion, see TCGNT 586.

[3:7]  ¹¹ tn This is the conclusion of a single, skillfully composed sentence in Greek encompassing Titus 3:4-7. Showing the goal of God’s merciful salvation, v. 7 begins literally, “in order that, being justified…we might become heirs…”

[3:7]  ¹² tn Grk “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

[3:14]  ¹³ tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).

[3:14]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”

[2:14]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “who” (as a continuation of the previous clause).

[2:14]  ¹⁶ tn Or “a people who are his very own.”

[2:14]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “for good works.”