Titus 3:8 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Titus 3:8
This 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.
something said (including the thought) · noun — nominative singular masculine
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
things
τούτωνtoútōn
G5130
of (from or concerning) these (persons or things)
will
βούλομαίboulomai
G1014
to "will · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 1st person singular
that
διαβεβαιοῦσθαιdiabebaiousthai
G1226
to confirm thoroughly (by words) · verb — present middle or passive deponent infinitive
thou
σέsé
G4571
thee
constantly
διαβεβαιόομαιdiabebaióomai
G1226
to confirm thoroughly (by words)
that
ἵναina
G2443
compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
believed
πεπιστευκότεςpepisteukotes
G4100
to have faith (in · verb — perfect active participle, nominative plural masculine
God
θεῷ·theō
G2316
figuratively · noun — dative singular masculine, a title
careful
φροντίζωσινphrontizōsin
G5431
to exercise thought · verb — present active subjunctive, 3rd person plural
maintain
προΐστασθαιproistasthai
G4291
to stand before · verb — present middle infinitive
good
καλῶνkalōn
G2570
X better · adjective — genitive plural neuter
works
ἔργωνergōn
G2041
toil (as an effort or occupation) · noun — genitive plural neuter
things
ταῦταtaûta
G5023
these things
are
ἐστίestí
G2076
he (she or it) is
good
καλὰkala
G2570
X better · adjective — nominative plural neuter
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
profitable
ὠφέλιμαōphelima
G5624
helpful or serviceable · adjective — nominative plural neuter
men
ἀνθρώποις.anthrōpois
G444
from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)) · noun — dative plural masculine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Psalms 16:2-3 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Job 22:2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into c…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Titus 3:1-8
Here is the fourth thing in the matter of the epistle. The apostle had directed Titus in reference to the particular and special duties of several sorts of persons; now he bids him exhort to what concerned them more in common, namely, to quietness and submission to rulers, and readiness to do good, and to equitable and gentle behaviour towards all men - things comely and ornamental of religion; he must therefore put them in mind of such things. Ministers are people's remembrancers of their duty. As they are remembrancers for the people to God in prayers (Isa 62:6), so are they from God to them in preaching: I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance, Pe2 1:12. Forgetfulness of…
Greek, "faithful is the saying." A formula peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles. Here "the saying" is the statement (Tit 3:4-7) as to the gratuitousness of God's gift of salvation. Answering to the "Amen."
these things, &c.--Greek, "concerning these things (the truths dwelt on, Tit 3:4-7; not as English Version, what follow), I will that thou affirm (insist) strongly and persistently, in order that they who have believed God (the Greek for 'believed in God' is different, Joh 14:1. 'They who have learnt to credit God' in what He saith) may be careful ('Solicitously sedulous'; diligence is necessary) to maintain (literally, 'to set before themselves so as to sustain') good works." No longer app…
This is a faithful saying - Πιστος ὁ λογος· This is the true doctrine; the doctrine that cannot fail.
And these things I will - Και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι· And I will, or desire, thee to maintain earnestly what concerns these points. The things to which the apostle refers are those of which he had just been writing, and may be thus summed up: -
1. The ruined state of man, both in soul and body.
2. The infinite goodness of God which devised his salvation.
3. The manifestation of this goodness, by the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
4. The justification which they who believed received through his blood.
5. The mission of the Holy Spirit, and the purification of the heart by his…
The Church Fathers
The saying is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to insist on, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and beneficial to people. Since Paul spoke about future things, which were unclear to most, he adds, The saying is trustworthy, that is, true and certain to come to pass. and concerning these things I want you. And about those things which have been said above and about these things. About which? may be careful to excel in good works. That is, of widows, orphans, those who are troubled, those in need; not only with money, but also with sincerity. These are the good things. To lead to good works.
Having spoken of the love of God to man, of His ineffable regard for us, of what we were and what He has done for us, he has added, "These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works"; that is, Discourse of these things, and from a consideration of them exhort to almsgiving. For what has been said will not only apply to humility, to the not being puffed up, and not reviling others, but to every other virtue. So also in arguing with the Corinthians, he says, "Ye know that our Lord being rich became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. viii. 9.) Having considered the care and exceeding love of God for man, he thence exhorts them to almsgiving, and that not in a common and slight manner, but "that they may be careful," he says, "to maintain good works," that is, both to succor the injured, not only by money, but by patronage and protection, and to defend the widows and orphans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted. For this is to maintain good works. For these things, he says, are good and profitable unto men.
Faithful is the saying, and I wish to confirm (or affirm) you about these things, that those who believe in the Lord should have care to preside over good works. These things are good and useful for men. This saying, faithful is, must be joined to the preceding part, in which he said that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs in the hope of eternal life. For the saying about the inheritance of God is worthy of faith, and about the hope of eternal life. Therefore, it is necessary concerning these matters, not only to believe and to confirm others who believe, without any doubt or fear, but also to confirm him who wants to believe in these things along with others. Therefore, it is said: "And I want to confirm you concerning these things." But those who truly believe in these things must take care of good works, through which the inheritance of God and the hope of eternal life are prepared. And to more firmly establish their faith, he did not say "those who believe in men," but "those who believe in God." For it is necessary that they take care of good works which, when fulfilled and carried out with every effort, are good and useful to believers.
Dictionary and topics
Character Of Saints · Zealous of good works — Zealous of good works
Works · .Servants should exhort to — .Servants should exhort to
Works, Good · Saints: Should be careful to maintain — Saints: Should be careful to maintain
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
This is a faithful saying,.... Meaning the whole of what is before expressed, concerning the state and condition of God's elect by nature; the appearance of the love and kindness of God to them in the effectual calling; the salvation of them, according to the mercy of God, and not by works of righteousness; regeneration, and renovation by the Spirit of God, in which such an abundance of grace is communicated; and justification by the free grace of God, as God's way of salvation; and by which men are made to appear to be heirs of eternal life, and to have hope of it: now all, and each of this is a faithful saying, is true doctrine, and to be believed, professed, and published: wherefore it fo…
Titus 3:8-9
8. This 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.
8. fidelis sermo est et de his volo to confirmare ut curent bonis operibus praeesse qui credunt Deo haec sunt bona et utilia hominibus
9. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
9. Stultas autem quaestiones et genealogias et contentiones et pugnas legis devita sunt enim inutiles et vanae
8 A faithful saying He employs this mode of expression, when he wishes to make a solemn assertion…
