Titus 1

Titus · Chapter 1

Titus 1:4

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;9Holding 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.10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul names the one he is writing to: Titus, his true son in the faith they share. He then blesses him with grace, mercy and peace. The blessing comes from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, whom Paul calls "our Saviour." Titus 1:4

SpeakingPaul, who calls himself "a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Titus 1:1Titus overview

ToTitus, whom Paul calls his "own son after the common faith." Elsewhere Paul calls him "my brother" and "my partner and fellowhelper." Titus 1:42 Corinthians 2:132 Corinthians 8:23Titus overview

This completes the greeting (1:1-4). Paul uses nearly the same blessing in 2 Timothy 1:2, writing to Timothy as his "dearly beloved son." Titus 1:42 Timothy 1:2Titus overview

Titus was in Crete, a large Mediterranean island with churches "in every city." The letter does not say where Paul was, but he planned to winter at Nicopolis. Titus overviewTitus 1:5

The eventsTitus was in Crete at the time, where Paul had left him (1:5). The verse gives no date. Titus 1:5Titus overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 63-65, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment. Scholarly: many hold that a follower wrote the letter in Paul's name about AD 80-100; others accept that Paul wrote it. Titus overview

HerePaul calls Titus "mine own son after the common faith." Titus is the one Paul left in Crete to set things in order and to rebuke sharply (1:5, 1:13). Titus 1:4Titus 1:5Titus 1:13

In the whole of ScriptureFaith is "common" to all believers: Jude speaks of "the common salvation" (Jude 1:3), and Peter writes to those who "obtained like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1). Paul and Titus were family because they shared that faith. Titus 1:4Jude 1:32 Peter 1:1

For readersBelievers are joined by a shared faith more than by background. Paul calls Titus, a Greek believer, his true son. Titus 1:4Titus overview

  • mine ownγνήσιος
    Greek · gnēsios · G1103

    The word first means lawfully born, and so true or genuine. The lexicon lists the same use in 1 Timothy 1:2, of Timothy. Strong's G1103

  • commonκοινός
    Greek · koinos · G2839H

    The word means common, shared by all. The lexicon lists this verse's "common faith" beside Jude's "common salvation." Strong's G2839HJude 1:3

Takeaway

Paul and Titus were bound together as father and son by a faith all believers share. Grace, mercy and peace come from the Father and from Christ our Saviour. Titus 1:4Jude 1:3

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
To TitusΤίτῳTitōG5103
Titus

Τίτος (Titos) Τίτος, -ου, ὁ Titus; 1. St. Paul's disciple and companion: 2Co.2:13 7:6 7:13-14 8:6 8:16 8:23 12:18, Gal.2:1, 3, 2Ti.4:10, Tit.1:4, subscr., Rec. (Τῖτος). 2. One surnamed Justus: Act.18:7, RV (T, WH, Τίτιος).† (AS)

[my] trueγνησίῳgnēsiōG1103
genuine

γνήσιος (gnēsios) γνήσιος, -α, -ον (γίγνομαι), [in LXX: Sir.7:18, 3Ma.3:19 * ;] 1. prop., lawfully begotten, born in wedlock (in π., γυνὴ γ., a lawful wife; MM, see word). 2. true, genuine, sincere: Php.4:3, 1Ti.1:2, Tit.1:4; as subst., τὸ γ. = ἡ γνησιότης, sincerity, 2Co.8:8. † (AS)

childτέκνῳteknōG5043
child

τέκνον (teknon) τέκνον, -ου, τό (τίκτω), [in LXX chiefly for בֵּן, also for יֶלֶד, etc. ;] that which is begotten, born (cf. Scottish bairn), a child of either sex: Mrk.13:12, Luk.1:7, Act.7:5; pl., Mat.7:11, Mrk.7:27, Luk.1:17, Eph.6:1, al.; τέκνα ἐπαγγελίας, Rom.9:8; τ. τῆς σαρκός, ib.; in a wider sense (as Heb. בָּנִים), of posterity, Mat.2:18, Luk.3:8, al.; specif., of a male child, Mat.21:28, Act.21:21, a,l.; in voc. as a form of kindly address from an elder to a junior or from a teacher to a disciple, Mat.9:2 21:28, Mrk.2:5, Luk.2:48; τ. μου (= cl. τ. μοι; see Bl., §37, 5), Gal.4:19 (τεκνία, WH, txt.) …

according toκατὰkataG2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

[our] commonκοινὴνkoinēnG2839H
common: unsanctified

κοινός (koinos) κοινός, -ή, -όν [in LXX: Pro.1:14 (אֶחָד) Pro.21:9 25:24 (חֶבֶר), Wis.7:3, al. ;] 1. common (general; = Lat. communis): Act.2:44 4:32; κ. πίστις, Tit.1:4; σωτηρία, Ju 3 2. common (ordinary; = vulgaris); hence in LXX (1Ma.1:47, al.) and NT, unhallowed, unclean (cl., βέβηλος, which see): Mrk.7:2, 5, Act.10:14, 28 11:8, Rom.14:14, Heb.10:29, Rev.21:27.† (AS)

faith:πίστιν·pistinG4102G
faith

πίστις (pistis) πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] 1. in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑ …

GraceχάριςcharisG5485
grace

χάρις (charis) χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ Abbott-Smith does not include the article here., accusative, χάριν (χάριτα in Act.24:27, Ju 4; see WH, App., 157), [in LXX chiefly for חֵן ;] 1. objectively, that which causes favourable regard, gracefulness, grace, loveliness of form, graciousness of speech (cl.; Ecc.10:12, Sir.21:16, al.): Col.4:6; λόγοι τ. χάριτος (genitive qual.), Luk.4:22. 2. Subjectively, …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

peaceεἰρήνηeirēnēG1515
peace

εἰρήνη (eirēnē) εἰρήνη, -ης, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלוֹם ;] peace; 1. of public peace, freedom from war: Luk.14:32, Act.12:20 24:2; of the church, Ac 9:31. 2. Of peace between persons, concord, agreement : Mat.10:34, Luk.12:51, Rom.14:17, 1Co.7:15, Gal.5:22, Jas.3:18; ζητεῖν εἰ., 1Pe.3:11; διώκειν, 2Ti.2:22; ib. before μετὰ πάντων, Heb.12:14; by meton., of him who brings peace, Eph.2:14. …

fromἀπὸapoG0575
away from

ἀπό (apo) ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). 1. Of separation and cessation; (1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; (2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; …

GodθεοῦtheouG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

[the] FatherπατρὸςpatrosG3962
father

πατήρ (patēr) πατήρ, πατρός, -τρί, τέρα, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for אָב ;] a father; 1. prop., (a) of the male parent: Mat.2:22, Luk.1:17, Jhn.4:53; anarth., Heb.12:7 (M, Pr., 82 f.); pl., of both parents (cl.), Heb.11:23; οἱ π. τ. σαρκός, Heb.12:9; (b) of a forefather or ancestor (in cl. usually in pl.; Hom., al.): Mat.3:9, Luk.1:73, Jhn.8:39, al.; pl., Mat.23:30, 32 Luk.6:23, 26 Jhn.4:20, 1Co.10:1, al. 2. Metaphorical, (a) of an author, originator, or archetype (= αἴτιος, ἀρχηγός, etc.; Pind., Plat., al.): Jhn.8:41-44, Rom.4:11, 12 16. …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

LordκυρίουkuriouG2962G
lord: God

κύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma …

ChristΧριστοῦChristouG5547
Christ

Χριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. …

JesusἸησοῦIēsouG2424G
Jesus

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Ἰησοῦς, -οῦ, dative, voc. -οῦ, accusative, -οῦν (Heb. יֵשׁוּעַ ,יְהֹשֻׁעַ ,יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), 1. JESUS: Mat.1:21, al.; ὁ Ἰ, ib. 3:13, al.; Ἰ. Χριστός, ib. 1:1, Mrk.1:1, al.; Χρ. Ἰ., Rom.2:26, al.; κύριος Ἰ., Act.28:31, al.; Ἰησοῦ, voc., Mrk.1:24, al. 2. Joshua: Act.7:45, Heb.4:8. 3. Jesus, son of Eliezer: Luk.3:28. 4. Jesus, surnamed Justus: Col.4:11. 5. see: βαραββᾶς. (AS)

SaviorσωτῆροςsōtērosG4990
savior

σωτήρ (sōtēr) σωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ (σώζω), [in LXX for יָשַׁע and cognate forms ;] saviour, deliverer, preserver, a frequently epithet of kings in the Ptolemaic and Rom. periods (Deiss., BS, 83; LAE, 368 f.; MM, xxiv), in NT, (a) of God (as LXX: Psa.24:5, Isa.12:2, al.): Luk.1:47, 1Ti.1:1 2:3 4:10, Tit.1:3 2:10 3:4, Ju 25; …

of us.ἡμῶν.¶hēmōnG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.