Titus 3:9-14

3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, ¹  quarrels, and fights about the law, ²  because they are useless and empty. 3:10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 3:11 You know ³  that such a person is twisted by sin ⁴  and is conscious of it himself. ⁵ 

Final Instructions and Greeting

3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 3:13 Make every effort to help ⁶  Zenas the lawyer ⁷  and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need. ⁸  3:14 Here is another way that our people ⁹  can learn ¹⁰  to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.

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 “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).

⁴ tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”

⁵ tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”

⁵ tn Grk “Eagerly help.”

⁶ 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.

⁷ tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”

⁷ tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).

⁸ tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”