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.