Titus 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ¹  a slave ²  of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith ³  of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,

Titus 1:5-6

Titus’ Task on Crete

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. 1:6 An elder must be blameless, ⁴  the husband of one wife, ⁵  with faithful children ⁶  who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.

Titus 1:9

1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, ⁷  so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching ⁸  and correct those who speak against it.

Titus 1:12

1:12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ⁹ 

Titus 2:2

2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ¹⁰  sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ¹¹ 

Titus 3:13

3:13 Make every effort to help ¹²  Zenas the lawyer ¹³  and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need. ¹⁴ 

[1:1]  ¹ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[1:1]  ² 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.

[1:1]  sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”

[1:1]  ³ tn Grk “for the faith,” possibly, “in accordance with the faith.”

[1:6]  ⁴ tn Grk “if anyone is blameless…” as a continuation of v. 5b, beginning to describe the elder’s character.

[1:6]  ⁵ tn Or “married only once,” “devoted solely to his wife.” See the note on “wife” in 1 Tim 3:2; also 1 Tim 3:12; 5:9.

[1:6]  ⁶ tn Or “believing children.” The phrase could be translated “believing children,” but the parallel with 1 Tim 3:4 (“keeping his children in control”) argues for the sense given in the translation.

[1:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “the faithful message in accordance with the teaching” (referring to apostolic teaching).

[1:9]  ⁸ tn Grk “the healthy teaching” (referring to what was just mentioned).

[1:12]  ⁹ sn A saying attributed to the poet Epimenides of Crete (6th century b.c.).

[2:2]  ¹⁰ tn Or “sensible.”

[2:2]  ¹¹ sn Temperate…in endurance. See the same cluster of virtues in 1 Thess 1:3 and 1 Cor 13:13.

[3:13]  ¹² tn Grk “Eagerly help.”

[3:13]  ¹³ 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.

[3:13]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”