Titus 3:3-13

3 1For we also once were foolish ourselves, 2disobedient, 3deceived, 4enslaved to 5various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in 6malice and 7envy, hateful, hating one another.
4 But when the 8kindness of 9God our Savior and His love for mankind 10appeared,
5 11He saved us, 12not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but 13according to His mercy, by the 14washing of regeneration and 15renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 16whom He poured out upon us 17richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made 18heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 19This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I 20want you to speak confidently, so that those who have 21believed God will be careful to 22engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
9 But 23avoid 24foolish controversies and 25genealogies and strife and 26disputes about the Law, for they are 27unprofitable and worthless.
10 28Reject a 29factious man 30after a first and second warning,
11 knowing that such a man is 31perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Concerns

12 When I send Artemas or 32Tychicus to you, 33make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to 34spend the winter there.
13 Diligently help Zenas the 35lawyer and 36Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.

Titus 3:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO TITUS 3

In this chapter the apostle exhorts Titus to press various duties incumbent on Christians, with arguments engaging to them; gives him some directions about dealing with heretics, and some instructions about private matters, and particular persons, and closes it with salutations. And first, he charges him to put his hearers in mind of their duty, to be subject to civil magistrates, and readily perform whatever is right and proper for them to do; and to abstain from blaspheming and brawling, and to exercise gentleness and meekness to all men, Tit 3:1,2. The arguments inducing thereunto are taken partly from their former state and condition, while unregenerate: when they were as ignorant and as wicked as other men, they are exhorted to behave well to; and partly from the consideration of the salvation they were now partakers of, Tit 3:3,4 which leads on the apostle to give an account of its causes and means: the moving cause of it is the love and mercy of God; the way and means in which it is brought about, are not works of righteousness done by men, but the regenerating and renewing grace of the Spirit, which is plentifully bestowed through Jesus Christ the Saviour, and justification by the free grace of God, by virtue of which men become heirs unto, and have an hope of eternal life, Tit 3:4-7 which several blessings of grace should be constantly insisted on in the ministry of the word, in order to engage believers carefully to perform good works; and because such doctrines are good in themselves, and profitable to men; whereas questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, are foolish, vain, and unprofitable, and to be avoided, Tit 3:8,9, wherefore an heretical man should be rejected from all Christian conversation and communion, after he has been admonished at least twice, seeing he is off of the foundation, has sinned, and is self-condemned, Tit 3:10,11. Next the apostle desires Titus to meet him at Nicopolis, where his design was to pass the winter, upon sending two ministering brethren to Crete, who are mentioned by name, Tit 3:12 and that he would accommodate two others, who are also named, with everything convenient for their journey, Tit 3:13 and charges him to exhort the brethren under his care to learn to be diligent and industrious in the performance of good works, which have their necessary uses, and prevent unfruitfulness, Tit 3:13,14. And the epistle is concluded with salutations, and the apostle's usual benediction, Tit 3:15.

Cross References 36

  • 1. Romans 11:30; Colossians 3:7
  • 2. Titus 1:16
  • 3. 2 Timothy 3:13
  • 4. Romans 6:6, 12
  • 5. 2 Timothy 3:6; Titus 2:12
  • 6. Romans 1:29
  • 7. Romans 1:29
  • 8. Romans 2:4; Ephesians 2:7; 1 Peter 2:3
  • 9. Titus 2:10
  • 10. Titus 2:11
  • 11. Romans 11:14; 2 Timothy 1:9
  • 12. Ephesians 2:9
  • 13. Ephesians 2:4; 1 Peter 1:3
  • 14. John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 3:21
  • 15. Romans 12:2
  • 16. Romans 5:5
  • 17. Romans 2:4; 1 Timothy 6:17
  • 18. Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:17; Romans 8:17, 24; Titus 1:2
  • 19. 1 Timothy 1:15
  • 20. 1 Timothy 2:8
  • 21. 2 Timothy 1:12
  • 22. Titus 2:7, 14; Titus 3:14
  • 23. 2 Timothy 2:16
  • 24. 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23
  • 25. 1 Timothy 1:4
  • 26. James 4:1
  • 27. 2 Timothy 2:14
  • 28. 2 John 10
  • 29. Romans 16:17
  • 30. Matthew 18:15
  • 31. Titus 1:14
  • 32. Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12
  • 33. 2 Timothy 4:9
  • 34. 2 Timothy 4:21
  • 35. Matthew 22:35
  • 36. Acts 18:24; 1 Corinthians 16:12

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "of eternal life according to hope"
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