1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
13Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Understand This
Titus 3, explained
What Titus 3 is saying
Paul instructs Titus to remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, ready for every good work, gentle, and showing perfect courtesy to all people. He grounds this civic ethic in the believers’ own pre-conversion condition: they too were once foolish, disobedient, enslaved to passions. But the grace of God intervened—‘when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, through the washing of regeneration (palingenesias) and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.’ Justified by grace, believers become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Paul urges Titus to insist on good works by believers and to avoid foolish controversies. He closes with personal instructions about Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas, and Apollos.
The background behind it
The instruction about submission to rulers is particularly significant given Crete’s history of independence and resistance to outside authority. The ‘washing of regeneration’ (loutron palingenesias) likely references baptism, using language that would resonate with both Jewish purification rituals and Hellenistic mystery religion terminology.
Themes running underneath
The soteriology of Titus 3:4–7 is among the most complete in the New Testament, integrating divine initiative (God’s kindness appeared), means (washing of regeneration and Spirit renewal), basis (mercy, not works), result (justification by grace), and goal (heirs of eternal life). The ethical instruction flows from gratitude for transformation, not from moral superiority over non-believers.
Why it still matters
The reminder of one’s own pre-conversion state prevents judgmentalism toward outsiders. The emphasis on ‘ready for every good work’ and the avoidance of ‘foolish controversies’ provides a practical priority: invest energy in constructive action rather than destructive debate.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.