Titus 2

But you, Titus, must teach what fits with sound, healthy teaching.

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Note"Become" here is the old sense of befit or suit: teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. "Sound" translates a Greek medical word meaning healthy or free of disease, and it runs through the letter: teaching is described as either healthy or sick.

2Teach the older men to be clear-headed and not controlled by drink, to be worthy of respect, to keep control of themselves, and to be sound in faith, in love, and in patient endurance.

2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

NoteFour separate words sit behind this line. "Sober" is a term for not being under the influence of wine. "Grave" means dignified and worthy of respect, not gloomy. "Temperate" is a wider word for self-command. "Charity" is simply the KJV's usual word for love; it has nothing to do with almsgiving here.

3In the same way, teach the older women to live in a way that shows reverence for God. They must not tear other people down with their words, and must not be controlled by too much wine. They should teach what is good.

3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Note"As becometh holiness" renders one Greek adjective meaning "fitting for sacred things," the way a person behaves in a temple. "False accusers" translates diabolos, slanderers; it is the same word used elsewhere as a title for the devil, and its plain meaning is someone who runs others down with talk.

4In that way they can train the younger women to be sensible, to love their husbands, and to love their children.

4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Note"Sober" again is the Greek word for self-controlled and level-headed, not a comment on drinking in this verse.

5They should be sensible, sexually pure, careful managers of their homes, kind, and willing to place themselves under their own husbands. Then no one will speak against God's message.

5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Note"Chaste" means sexually pure. "Keepers at home" is a rare word meaning workers or managers in the household; in a first-century home that was a substantial job, covering supplies, money and the direction of servants. "Blasphemed" in Greek means simply to be spoken of abusively; the word was used of insulting anyone, not only of cursing God.

6In the same way, urge the younger men to keep control of themselves.

6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7In everything, make yourself an example by doing good. When you teach, show honesty, seriousness,

7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Note"Pattern" translates typos, the mark left by a stamp or die, so a model meant to be copied. "Uncorruptness" means integrity, teaching with nothing adulterated in it. "Gravity" again means dignity or seriousness, not heaviness of mood.

8and healthy speech that no one can find fault with. Then anyone who opposes you will be put to shame, because there is nothing bad they can say about us.

8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Note"He that is of the contrary part" means the person on the other side, an opponent or critic.

9Tell slaves to obey their own masters and to please them in everything, and not to talk back,

9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Note"Servants" here translates douloi, slaves: people legally owned by their masters, which was ordinary in Roman households. The KJV's "servants" hides that. "Not answering again" means not contradicting or talking back.

10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted. In this way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Note"Purloining" is 1611 English for pilfering. The Greek word means holding back a little from money or goods passing through your hands, a standing concern with household slaves who did the buying and carrying. "Adorn" translates a word used of arranging jewels or trimming a lamp: the idea is making the teaching look well.

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing rescue to all people.

11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

NoteThe Greek can be read two ways, and translators divide: either the grace of God has appeared to all people, or the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. "Appeared" is the verb behind the noun in verse 13.

12It trains us to say no to a life that ignores God and to the cravings of this world, and to live sensibly, uprightly, and in a way that honors God in the present age,

12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Note"Lusts" in 1611 meant strong desires of any kind, not only sexual ones. "This present world" translates aion, meaning the present age or era, a stretch of time rather than the planet.

13while we wait for the blessed hope: the appearing in glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ.

13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Note"Looking for" means waiting expectantly. "Appearing" is epiphaneia, the standard Greek word for the visible arrival of a god or the state visit of an emperor to a city. The phrase "the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" is grammatically ambiguous in Greek. It can be read as two figures, God and Jesus Christ, or as one, with both titles applied to Jesus. Translations split on it, and the wording itself does not settle the question.

14He gave himself for us to buy our freedom from every kind of wrongdoing, and to make us clean and take us as his very own people, eager to do good.

14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Note"Redeem" translates a word for paying a price to set someone free, as when a slave or prisoner was bought out of captivity. "Peculiar" in 1611 English meant belonging exclusively to one owner, so a people that are God's own property; it did not mean odd or strange. "Iniquity" here is a Greek word meaning lawlessness. "Zealous" means eager or keen.

15Say these things. Urge people to do them, and correct people, with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Note"Exhort" means urge or encourage; "rebuke" means correct someone who is in the wrong. "Despise" translates a verb meaning to disregard or think past someone, treating them as beneath notice, rather than to hate them.