TIT 3:1-8

Heirs of Grace

1Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work,

2to slander no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.

3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various desires and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

4But when the kindness and the love-for-mankind of God our Savior appeared,

5not out of works in righteousness which we ourselves did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

6which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8Trustworthy is the word, and concerning these things I want you to insist firmly, that those having believed in God may be devoted to good works. These things are good and profitable for men.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman imperial context, submission to rulers and authorities was a civic expectation, often tied to maintaining social order and avoiding conflict. The emphasis on being 'ready for every good work' reflects the Greco-Roman ideal of civic virtue, where public benefaction and moral integrity were highly valued. The call to avoid slander and live peaceably aligns with Stoic ideals of harmony and self-control, while 'gentleness' carried connotations of strength tempered by humility, a virtue prized in both Jewish and Greco-Roman ethics. The description of past behavior—'foolish' , 'disobedient,' and enslaved to passions—mirrors Jewish and pagan critiques of moral ignorance and vice. The 'washing of regeneration' evokes Jewish ritual purification and Greco-Roman philosophical ideas of renewal, but here it is redefined through the Holy Spirit as a transformative act of divine mercy, not human effort. This passage contrasts the futility of human striving with the grace of God’s intervention, grounding ethical living in divine kindness rather than self-justification.

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How other translations render this

TIT 3:1

KJV: Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
BSB: Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
Koinōnos: Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work,

TIT 3:2

KJV: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
BSB: to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
Koinōnos: to slander no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.

TIT 3:3

KJV: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
BSB: For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Koinōnos: For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various desires and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

TIT 3:4

KJV: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
BSB: But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
Koinōnos: But when the kindness and the love-for-mankind of God our Savior appeared,

TIT 3:5

KJV: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
BSB: He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Koinōnos: not out of works in righteousness which we ourselves did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

TIT 3:6

KJV: Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
BSB: This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Koinōnos: which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

TIT 3:7

KJV: That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
BSB: so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Koinōnos: that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

TIT 3:8

KJV: This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
BSB: This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
Koinōnos: Trustworthy is the word, and concerning these things I want you to insist firmly, that those having believed in God may be devoted to good works. These things are good and profitable for men.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

TIT 3:1

to rulers:The word translated 'to rulers' refers to those in positions of authority or power, encompassing both governmental officials and other influential leaders in society.

TIT 3:2

humility:The term translated 'humility' here carries the sense of gentle strength and mildness, often associated with a disciplined spirit rather than weakness or timidity.

TIT 3:3

foolish,:The word translated 'foolish' describes someone who lacks understanding or is thoughtless, often implying a failure to use one's mind or reason properly.

TIT 3:5

of regeneration:The word translated 'of regeneration' literally means 'new birth' or 'renewal,' and in 1st-century usage, it could refer to a new beginning for the world or for an individual's life.