Titus 3:8-11

Summary of the Letter

3:8 This saying ¹  is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, ²  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. 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, ³  quarrels, and fights about the law, ⁴  because they are useless and empty. 3:10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 3:11 You know ⁵  that such a person is twisted by sin ⁶  and is conscious of it himself. ⁷ 

[3:8]  ¹ 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.

[3:8]  ² tn Grk “concerning these things.”

[3:9]  ³ tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.

[3:9]  ⁴ 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).

[3:11]  ⁵ tn Grk “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).

[3:11]  ⁶ tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”

[3:11]  ⁷ tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”