Add parallel Print Page Options

Remind hypomimnēskō them autos to be subject hypotassō to rulers archē, to authorities exousia, to be obedient peitharcheō, to be eimi ready hetoimos for pros any pas good agathos work ergon, to blaspheme blasphēmeō no one mēdeis, to be eimi peaceable amachos, gracious epieikēs, showing endeiknymi complete pas gentleness prautēs toward pros all pas people anthrōpos. For gar once pote we ourselves hēmeis also kai were eimi foolish anoētos, disobedient apeithēs, being led astray planaō, being enslaved douleuō by desires epithumia and kai various poikilos pleasures hēdonē, living a life diagō of en evil kakia and kai envy phthonos, detestable stygētos, hating miseō one another allēlōn. But de when hote the ho goodness chrēstotēs and kai · ho loving kindness philanthrōpia of ho God theos our hēmeis Savior sōtēr appeared epiphainō, not ou because of ek works ergon of ho righteousness dikaiosynē that hos we hēmeis did poieō but alla according to kata · ho his autos mercy eleos, he saved sōzō us hēmeis, through dia the washing loutron of regeneration palingenesia and kai renewal anakainōsis of the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma, whom hos he richly plousiōs poured out ekcheō for epi us hēmeis through dia Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos · ho our hēmeis Savior sōtēr, so that hina having been justified dikaioō by ho his ekeinos grace charis, we might become ginomai heirs klēronomos according to kata the hope elpis of eternal aiōnios life zōē. Trustworthy pistos is the ho saying logos, and kai I want boulomai you sy to insist emphatically diabebaioomai on peri these things houtos so that hina those ho who have believed in pisteuō God theos might be intent on phrontizō devoting themselves to proistēmi good kalos works ergon. These houtos are eimi good kalos and kai profitable ōphelimos for ho people anthrōpos. But de shun periistēmi foolish mōros speculations zētēsis and kai genealogies genealogia and kai strife eris and kai quarrels machē about the law nomikos, for gar they are eimi harmful anōphelēs and kai useless mataios. 10 Avoid paraiteomai the factious hairetikos person anthrōpos after meta a first heis and kai second deuteros warning nouthesia, 11 knowing oida that hoti such a person toioutos has been warped ekstrephō · ho and kai is sinning hamartanō, being eimi self-condemned autokatakritos.

12 When hotan I send pempō Artemas Artemas to pros you sy or ē Tychicus Tychikos, do your best spoudazō to come erchomai to pros me egō in eis Nicopolis Nikopolis, for gar I have decided krinō to winter paracheimazō there ekei. 13 Do your best spoudaiōs to help Zenas Zēnas the ho lawyer nomikos and kai Apollos Apollōs on their journey propempō, so that hina they autos lack leipō nothing mēdeis. 14 And de let our people hēmeteros learn manthanō · kai · ho to be devoted to proistēmi good kalos deeds ergon, specifically eis the ho urgent anankaios needs chreia, lest hina mē they be eimi fruitless akarpos. 15 All pas those ho with meta me egō greet aspazomai you sy. Greet aspazomai those ho who love phileō us hēmeis in en the faith pistis. · ho Grace charis be with meta all pas of you hymeis.

Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church

Remind them to be subject to rulers and[a] authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. They must not slander[b] anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. [c] But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure[d] through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so,[e] since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”[f]

Summary of the Letter

This saying[g] is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths,[h] 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. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies,[i] quarrels, and fights about the law,[j] because they are useless and empty. 10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 11 You know[k] that such a person is twisted by sin[l] and is conscious of it himself.[m]

Final Instructions and Greeting

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. 13 Make every effort to help[n] Zenas the lawyer[o] and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.[p] 14 Here is another way that our people[q] can learn[r] to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful. 15 Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith.[s] Grace be with you all.[t]

Footnotes

  1. Titus 3:1 tc Most later witnesses (D1 0278 1241 1505 M lat sy) have καί (kai, “and”) after ἀρχαῖς (archais, “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.
  2. Titus 3:2 tn Or “discredit,” “damage the reputation of.”
  3. Titus 3:4 tn Verses 4-7 are set as poetry in NA28. These verses probably constitute the referent of the expression “this saying” in v. 8.
  4. Titus 3:6 tn Or “on us richly.”
  5. Titus 3:7 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…”
  6. Titus 3:7 tn Grk “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
  7. Titus 3:8 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.
  8. Titus 3:8 tn Grk “concerning these things.”
  9. Titus 3:9 tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.
  10. Titus 3:9 sn Fights about the law were characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus as well as in Crete (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-7; Titus 1:10, 14).
  11. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).
  12. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”
  13. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”
  14. Titus 3:13 tn Grk “Eagerly help.”
  15. Titus 3:13 tn Although it is possible the term νομικός (nomikos) indicates an expert in Jewish religious law here, according to L&N 33.338 and 56.37 it is more probable that Zenas was a specialist in civil law.
  16. Titus 3:13 tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”
  17. Titus 3:14 tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).
  18. Titus 3:14 tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”
  19. Titus 3:15 tn Or “faithfully.”
  20. Titus 3:15 tc Most witnesses (א2 D1 F G H Ψ 0278 1241 1505 M lat sy bo) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, early and excellent witnesses (א* A C D* 048 33 81 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle, rendering the omission the preferred reading.