Titus 3 · ESV Study Bible

Be Ready for Every Good Work

TITUS 3 [†]Remind them x to be submissive to rulers and authorities, y to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2[†] z to speak evil of no one, a to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and b to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3[†]For c we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4[†]But when d the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5[†]he saved us, e not because of works done by us in righteousness, but f according to his own mercy, by g the washing of regeneration and h renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he i poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that j being justified by his grace we might become k heirs l according to the hope of eternal life. 8[†]The saying is m trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful n to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9[†]But o avoid foolish p controversies, q genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for r they are unprofitable and worthless. 10[†]As for a person who stirs up division, s after warning him once and then twice, t have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

12[†]When I send Artemas or u Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me v at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13[†]Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and w Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14[†]And let our people learn x to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not y be unfruitful.

15[†]All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

z Grace be with you all.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:10–11 Have nothing more to do with him describes the final stage of church discipline (see also 1 Corinthians 5). A divisive person who refuses to repent and change after being confronted (see Matt. 18:15–20) shows himself to be twisted by sin (warped); thus, he is self-condemned. The NT is clear about seeking the repentance of such people, but it is equally clear that refusal to receive rebuke eventually shows that one is not in Christ and must be excluded from the Christian community.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:1–2 Proper Living, Particularly with Respect to Outsiders. Paul returns to describing “gospel living,” this time with reference to interaction with outsiders. In general the qualities encouraged here (vv. 1–2) are in contrast to the description of the false teachers in 1:10–16.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:9 But. The reference to the usefulness of correct doctrine in v. 8 sets up the contrast with the worthless nature of the false teaching. As elsewhere in the letters to Timothy and Titus, the exact content of the false teaching is not clear. The point is that it is foolish, unprofitable, and worthless.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:1 ready for every good work. Whereas the false teachers are “unfit for any good work” (1:16), one of the purposes of the cross is to create a people “zealous for good works” (2:14).

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:8 Summary Command. The command to insist on these things is similar to 2:15, both statements carrying a significant tone of authority. Again note the emphasis on good works as a mark of believers (see 1:16; 2:14; 3:1).

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:4 Goodness and loving kindness stand in stark contrast to the description of lost humanity in v. 3. The difference is due to the appearance of God our Savior (see note on 2 Tim. 1:8–10).

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:3–7 Gospel Basis. As in 2:11–14, Paul explains how his exhortations to godly living (3:1–2) are based on the gospel. This gospel statement is presented in a traditional “conversion” formula—“formerly … but now”—highlighting the ethical and practical change effected by grace.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:5 The transformation described in vv. 3–7 (formerly … but now) is not based on human effort. “We … were once enslaved” (v. 3) but he saved us. God must act before salvation occurs. Salvation comes not because of works but by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Some have understood this as saying that baptism (“the washing”) causes salvation. However, in this context human deeds are clearly downplayed (“not because of works”) and the emphasis is on divine action and initiative (“he saved us”). The “washing” described here is the spiritual cleansing, which is outwardly symbolized in baptism.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:14 Having stressed good works throughout the letter, and having just called for assistance of fellow laborers (v. 13), Paul addresses this theme once more. This opportunity to assist Zenas and Apollos is one more example of how Christians can be involved in good works, relieving needs and furthering the gospel.

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:13–14 Speed … on their way; see that they lack nothing shows Paul’s concern for the support of fellow missionaries and thus speaks to the church’s role in supporting missions—and addressing cases of urgent need—today. Zenas is not mentioned elsewhere in the NT. Apollos is undoubtedly the popular speaker mentioned in Acts and 1 Corinthians (Acts 18:24; 19:1; 1 Cor. 3:6; etc.).

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:2 The list closes with a call to take the initiative to show all manner of good to all sorts of people. Perfect courtesy (Gk. prautēta) is a good translation of an often misunderstood word literally meaning “meekness/gentleness.”

TITUS—NOTE ON 3:9–11 The Problem Restated: False Teachers. Paul returns to the problem of false teachers. Thus, the discussion of gospel living (2:1–3:8) is flanked by discussion of those who claim to believe this gospel but fail to live it out.