1:10 For there are many 12 rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 13
3:8 This saying 22 is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, 23 so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.
1:1 From Paul, 24 a slave 25 of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith 26 of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
1 tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.
2 sn Fights about the law were characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus as well as in Crete (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-7; Titus 1:10, 14).
3 tn Grk “training us” (as a continuation of the previous clause). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started at the beginning of v. 12 by translating the participle παιδεύουσα (paideuousa) as a finite verb and supplying the pronoun “it” as subject.
4 tn Grk “ungodliness.”
5 tn Grk “the blessed hope and glorious appearing.”
6 tn The terms “God and Savior” both refer to the same person, Jesus Christ. This is one of the clearest statements in the NT concerning the deity of Christ. The construction in Greek is known as the Granville Sharp rule, named after the English philanthropist-linguist who first clearly articulated the rule in 1798. Sharp pointed out that in the construction article-noun-καί-noun (where καί [kai] = “and”), when two nouns are singular, personal, and common (i.e., not proper names), they always had the same referent. Illustrations such as “the friend and brother,” “the God and Father,” etc. abound in the NT to prove Sharp’s point. The only issue is whether terms such as “God” and “Savior” could be considered common nouns as opposed to proper names. Sharp and others who followed (such as T. F. Middleton in his masterful The Doctrine of the Greek Article) demonstrated that a proper name in Greek was one that could not be pluralized. Since both “God” (θεός, qeos) and “savior” (σωτήρ, swthr) were occasionally found in the plural, they did not constitute proper names, and hence, do fit Sharp’s rule. Although there have been 200 years of attempts to dislodge Sharp’s rule, all attempts have been futile. Sharp’s rule stands vindicated after all the dust has settled. For more information on Sharp’s rule see ExSyn 270-78, esp. 276. See also 2 Pet 1:1 and Jude 4.
7 tn Or “reproof,” “censure.” The Greek word ἐλέγχω (elencw) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
8 tn Grk “speak these things and exhort and rebuke with all authority.”
9 tn Or “let anyone despise you”; or “let anyone disregard you.”
9 tn Grk “the faithful message in accordance with the teaching” (referring to apostolic teaching).
10 tn Grk “the healthy teaching” (referring to what was just mentioned).
11 tc ‡ The earliest and best
12 tn Grk “those of the circumcision.” Some translations take this to refer to Jewish converts to Christianity (cf. NAB “Jewish Christians”; TEV “converts from Judaism”; CEV “Jewish followers”) while others are less clear (cf. NLT “those who insist on circumcision for salvation”).
13 sn Jewish myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and 2 Tim 4:4.
15 tn Verses 4-7 are set as poetry in NA26/NA27. These verses probably constitute the referent of the expression “this saying” in v. 8.
17 tn Grk “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).
18 tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”
19 tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”
19 tn Grk “Eagerly help.”
20 tn Although it is possible the term νομικός (nomikos) indicates an expert in Jewish religious law here, according to L&N 33.338 and 56.37 it is more probable that Zenas was a specialist in civil law.
21 tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”
21 sn This saying (Grk “the saying”) refers to the preceding citation (Titus 3:4-7). See 1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11 for other occurrences of this phrase.
22 tn Grk “concerning these things.”
23 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
24 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
25 tn Grk “for the faith,” possibly, “in accordance with the faith.”
25 tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).
26 tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”
27 tn Grk “who” (as a continuation of the previous clause).
28 tn Or “a people who are his very own.”
29 tn Grk “for good works.”