New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Titus 3
1
Remind God's people to obey rulers and authorities. Remind them to be ready to do what is good.
Reference
2
Tell them not to speak evil things against anyone. Remind them to live in peace. They must consider the needs of others. They must be kind and gentle toward all people.
Reference
3
At one time we too acted like fools. We didn't obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of longings and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.
Reference
4
But the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 9:26
References God
Romans 2:4
Salvation
1 Timothy 4:10
2 Timothy 1:10
1 Timothy 2:3
1 Timothy 1:1
Titus 1:3
5
He saved us. It wasn't because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.
Reference
Grace
1 Peter 1:3
Ephesians 2:4
Romans 11:6
Hebrews 4:16
Parallel theme
Romans 12:2
Ephesians 5:26
Righteousness
1 Corinthians 6:11
Salvation
2 Timothy 1:9
1 Peter 3:21
Spirit
Psalm 51:10
6
God poured out the Spirit on us freely because of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joel 2:28
Romans 5:5
Acts 10:45
Isaiah 44:3
Ezekiel 36:25
Proverbs 1:23
John 1:16
John 16:7
References Christ
Ephesians 3:8
7
His grace made us right with God. So now we have received the hope of eternal life as God's children.
Reference
Eternal Life
Titus 1:2
Grace
Romans 3:24
Titus 2:11
Romans 11:6
Romans 4:16
Parallel theme
Romans 8:17
James 2:5
Righteousness
1 Corinthians 6:11
Galatians 2:16
Romans 3:28
8
You can trust that saying. Those things are important. Treat them that way. Then those who have trusted in God will be careful to commit themselves to doing what is good. Those things are excellent. They are for the good of everyone.
Reference
Faith
Titus 1:9
Romans 4:5
John 5:24
John 12:44
1 Timothy 1:15
1 Peter 1:21
Good
Titus 3:14
Titus 2:14
Titus 3:1
References God
Job 22:2
9
But keep away from foolish disagreements. Don't argue about family histories. Don't make trouble. Don't fight about what the law teaches. Don't argue about things like that. It doesn't do any good. It doesn't help anyone.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Timothy 2:23
1 Timothy 4:7
2 Timothy 2:16
Job 15:3
1 Corinthians 8:1
Word
2 Timothy 2:14
Titus 1:14
10
Warn anyone who tries to get believers to take sides and separate into their own little groups. Warn him more than once. After that, have nothing to do with him.
Reference
11
You can be sure that someone like that is twisted and sinful. His own actions judge him.
Reference
12
I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. Then do your best to come to me at Nicopolis. I've decided to spend the winter there.
Reference
📍 Nicopolis
People
13
Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos. Send them on their way. See that they have everything they need.
Reference
People
14
Our people must learn to commit themselves to doing what is good. Then they will be able to provide for the daily needs of others. If they do that, their lives won't turn out to be useless.
Reference
Chapter Summary
Titus 3 teaches believers to live responsibly within society, show humility and gentleness toward everyone, remember their own sinful past, depend completely upon God's mercy for salvation, allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives, devote themselves to good works, avoid pointless religious controversies, confront persistent divisiveness wisely, and support Christian workers through practical generosity and hospitality.
Paul begins by instructing Christians to respect governing authorities, obey legitimate laws, remain ready to do good works, and demonstrate responsible behavior within society, while also commanding them to avoid slander, unnecessary conflict, and arrogance.
Instead, believers should show gentleness and humility toward everyone, remembering that they themselves once lived foolishly and were controlled by deception, sinful desires, envy, hatred, and conflict.
This reminder of their former condition is important because Christians should not approach unbelievers or opponents with pride, as though they were naturally better than others, but should remember that their own transformation came from God's mercy.
Paul then explains the foundation of that transformation, declaring that God's kindness and love appeared through Jesus Christ, who saved believers not because they had earned salvation through righteous works but because of God's mercy.
Salvation is therefore presented as God's gracious work involving regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit, whom God has richly poured out upon believers through Jesus Christ.
Because believers have been justified by grace, they become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, giving Christian obedience a future-oriented foundation that reaches beyond temporary earthly circumstances.
Paul immediately connects this salvation with practical responsibility, instructing Titus to emphasize these truths so that believers will devote themselves to good works, because genuine faith should produce lives that are useful and beneficial to others.
At the same time, Paul warns Titus to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and disputes about the law, because such debates are unprofitable when they create division without producing greater understanding, holiness, or service.
When someone repeatedly creates division after receiving appropriate correction, Titus is instructed to establish clear boundaries, because Christian patience should not become permission for persistent destructive behavior.
The chapter concludes with practical instructions concerning Artemas, Tychicus, Titus, Nicopolis, Zenas, and Apollos, demonstrating that early Christian ministry involved organized travel, cooperation, hospitality, financial support, and practical assistance.
Paul's final reminder that believers should devote themselves to good works that meet urgent needs reinforces one of the chapter's strongest themes, namely that Christian faith should become practically useful in the lives of other people.
The central message of Titus 3 is that Christians should respond to God's mercy by living peacefully and responsibly within society, treating everyone with humility and gentleness, remembering that their own salvation came through God's grace rather than personal achievement, allowing the Holy Spirit to renew their lives, devoting themselves to useful good works, avoiding pointless controversies that produce division, correcting persistent troublemakers with appropriate firmness, and supporting faithful Christian workers through practical generosity and hospitality.
Paul begins by instructing Christians to respect governing authorities, obey legitimate laws, remain ready to do good works, and demonstrate responsible behavior within society, while also commanding them to avoid slander, unnecessary conflict, and arrogance.
Instead, believers should show gentleness and humility toward everyone, remembering that they themselves once lived foolishly and were controlled by deception, sinful desires, envy, hatred, and conflict.
This reminder of their former condition is important because Christians should not approach unbelievers or opponents with pride, as though they were naturally better than others, but should remember that their own transformation came from God's mercy.
Paul then explains the foundation of that transformation, declaring that God's kindness and love appeared through Jesus Christ, who saved believers not because they had earned salvation through righteous works but because of God's mercy.
Salvation is therefore presented as God's gracious work involving regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit, whom God has richly poured out upon believers through Jesus Christ.
Because believers have been justified by grace, they become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, giving Christian obedience a future-oriented foundation that reaches beyond temporary earthly circumstances.
Paul immediately connects this salvation with practical responsibility, instructing Titus to emphasize these truths so that believers will devote themselves to good works, because genuine faith should produce lives that are useful and beneficial to others.
At the same time, Paul warns Titus to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and disputes about the law, because such debates are unprofitable when they create division without producing greater understanding, holiness, or service.
When someone repeatedly creates division after receiving appropriate correction, Titus is instructed to establish clear boundaries, because Christian patience should not become permission for persistent destructive behavior.
The chapter concludes with practical instructions concerning Artemas, Tychicus, Titus, Nicopolis, Zenas, and Apollos, demonstrating that early Christian ministry involved organized travel, cooperation, hospitality, financial support, and practical assistance.
Paul's final reminder that believers should devote themselves to good works that meet urgent needs reinforces one of the chapter's strongest themes, namely that Christian faith should become practically useful in the lives of other people.
The central message of Titus 3 is that Christians should respond to God's mercy by living peacefully and responsibly within society, treating everyone with humility and gentleness, remembering that their own salvation came through God's grace rather than personal achievement, allowing the Holy Spirit to renew their lives, devoting themselves to useful good works, avoiding pointless controversies that produce division, correcting persistent troublemakers with appropriate firmness, and supporting faithful Christian workers through practical generosity and hospitality.