Titus 2

Titus · Chapter 2

Titus 2:12

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

God's grace does not only save; it trains. It teaches believers to say no to ungodliness and worldly desires. In their place it teaches them to live sensibly, rightly and godly in this present world. Titus 2:11Titus 2:12

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

ToTitus, Paul's "own son after the common faith," whom Paul had left in Crete to set the churches in order. Titus overview

Also involvedAll believers: Paul says grace is "teaching us." Titus 2:12

Paul spells out what grace teaches: a turning away ("denying ungodliness and worldly lusts") and a new way of life ("soberly, righteously, and godly"). Titus 2:12Titus 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 overview

The eventsThis training happens "in this present world," while believers wait for Christ's appearing (2:13). Titus 2:12Titus 2:13

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 shows that the lives he asked for in 2:2-10 are not a burden added to grace but the fruit of it. Titus 2:11Titus 2:12Titus overview

In the whole of ScriptureGod promised, "I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes" (Ezekiel 36:27). Jesus called disciples to "deny himself" (Matthew 16:24), and Paul urged believers to "put off ... the old man" (Ephesians 4:22). John says those who abide in Christ should walk as he walked (1 John 2:6). Ezekiel 36:27Matthew 16:24Ephesians 4:221 John 2:6

For readersGrace is not permission to keep sinning. It teaches believers to refuse sin and to live with self-control, justice and godliness now. Titus 2:12Matthew 16:24

  • teachingπαιδεύω
    Greek · paideuō · G3811

    The word first means to train children, and so to teach or instruct. Grace acts like a trainer. Strong's G3811

  • denyingἀρνέομαι
    Greek · arneomai · G0720

    The word means to deny or say no. Grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness. Strong's G0720

  • soberlyσωφρόνως
    Greek · sōphronōs · G4996

    The word means with sound mind, prudently. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G4996

  • godlyεὐσεβῶς
    Greek · eusebōs · G2153

    The word means piously, religiously. It also appears in 2 Timothy 3:12. Strong's G2153

Takeaway

God's grace trains believers to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Titus 2:11Titus 2:121 John 2:6

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
instructingπαιδεύουσαpaideuousaG3811
to instruct

παιδεύω (paideuō) παιδεύω (παίς), [in LXX chiefly for יָסַר ;] 1. as in cl., to train children, hence, generally, to teach, instruct: Act.7:22 22:3, 1Ti.1:20, Tit.2:12. 2. As in LXX (Psa.6:2, Pro.19:18, Wis.3:5, al., and for prob. ex. from π., see MM, xviii), to chasten, correct, chastise: Luk.23:16, 22, 2Ti.2:25, Heb.12:7, 10; of divine chastening, 1Co.11:32, 2Co.6:9, Heb.12:6, Rev.3:19.† SYN.: διδάσκω, q.v (AS)

usἡμᾶςhēmasG3165
me

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

thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

having deniedἀρνησάμενοιarnēsamenoiG0720
to deny

ἀρνέομαι (arneomai) ἀρνέομαι -οῦμαι, depon., [in LXX: Gen.18:15 (כָּחַשׁ pi.), Wis.12:27 16:16 17:10, 4Ma.8:7 4Mac 10:15 * ;] 1. to deny, say no, opposite to είπεῖν: absol., Mat.26:70, Luk.8:45; before ἅτι, 1Jn.2:22; with inf., Heb.11:24 2. In late Gk. (MM, see word), with accusative of person(s), to deny, refuse to acknowledge, disown: Act.3:14 7:35; Ἰησοῦν, Mat.10:33, 2Ti.2:12, 1Jn.2:22, Ju 4; ἑαυτόν, Luk.9:23, 2Ti.2:13 (prove false to) 3. C. accusative of thing(s) (in cl. to refuse), to deny, abjure: 1Ti.5:8, Tit.2:12, 2Ti.3:5 (cf. ἀπαρνέομαι) (AS)

ungodlinessἀσέβειανasebeianG0763
ungodlinessness

ἀσέβεια (asebeia) ἀσέβεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀσεβής), [in LXX for פֶּשַׁע, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;] ungodliness, impiety: Rom.1:18 11:26, 2Ti.2:16, Tit.2:12; ἔργα ἀσεβείας, ungodly deeds, Ju 15; ἐπιθυηίαι τ. ἀσεβειῶν, desires for ungodly things or deeds, Ju 18 (DB, iv, 532; Cremer, 523; MM, see word).† (AS)

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. …

worldlyκοσμικὰςkosmikasG2886
earthly

κοσμικός (kosmikos) κοσμικός, -ή, -όν (κόσμος) 1. pertaining to the world or universe. 2. of this world, earthly. Heb.9:1. 3. In ethical sense, worldly: ἐπιθυμίαι, Tit.2:12.† (AS)

passionsἐπιθυμίαςepithumiasG1939
desire

ἐπιθυμία (epithumia) ἐπιθυμία, -ας, ἡ (έπιθυμέω), [in LXX chiefly for תַּאֲוָה, אָוָה; also for חֶמֶד, etc. ;] desire, longing: Luk.22:15 (see: ἐπιθυμέω), Php.1:23, 1Th.2:17, Rev.18:14; p1., Mrk.4:19; esp. with ref. to forbidden things, desire, lust (Vg., concupiscentia): Rom.7:7-8, Jas.1:14-15, 2Pe.1:4; pl., Gal.5:24, 1Ti.6:9, 2Ti.2:22 4:3, 1Pe.1:14 4:2; πάθος ἐπιθυμίας, 1Th.4:5; ἐ. κακή, Col.3:5; with genitive, μιασμοῦ, 2Pe.2:10 (see Mayor, in l); τ. καρδιῶν, Rom.1:24; τ. κόσμου (aroused by the world), 1Jn.2:17; τ. σώματος, Rom.6:12; τ. ἀπάτης, Eph.4:22 (see ICC, in l); τ. σαρκός, 1Jn.2:16, 2Pe.2:18 (without ar …

discreetlyσωφρόνωςsōphronōsG4996
in self-control

σωφρόνως (sōphronōs) σωφρόνως adv., [in LXX: Wis.9:11 * ;] with sound mind, prudently, soberly: Tit.2:12.† (AS)

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. …

righteouslyδικαίωςdikaiōsG1346
rightly

δικαίως (dikaiōs) δικαίως adv. (δίκαιος, which see), [in LXX for צֶדֶק, etc. ;] 1. righteously: 1Co.15:34, 1Th.2:10, Tit.2:12. 2. justly: Luk.23:41, 1Pe.2:23.† (AS)

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. …

piouslyεὐσεβῶςeusebōsG2153
piously

εὐσεβῶς (eusebōs) εὐσεβῶς adv., [in LXX: 4Ma.7:21 * ;] piously, religiously: 2Ti.3:12, Tit.2:12.† (AS)

we may liveζήσωμενzēsōmenG2198
to live

ζάω (zaō) ζάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for חיה (most frequently ptcp., ζῶν, inf., ζῆν, for חַי ;] 1. prop., to live, be alive (see Syn., see word βίος; in cl. usually of animal life, but sometimes of plants, as Arist., Eth. N, i, 7, 12): Act.20:12, Rom.7:1-3, 1Co.7:39, Rev.19:20, al.; ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν, Act.17:28; ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, Php.1:21; διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν (M, Pr., 215, 249), Heb.2:15; ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, Gal.2:20; ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός, Gal.2:20; (ὁ) ζῶν, of God (אֵל חַי and cognate phrases, Jos.3:10, Hos.2:1 (1:10), Isa.37:4, al.; see DCG, ii, 39a), Mat.16:16, Jhn.6:57, Rom.9:26, 1Th.1:9, Heb.3:12, Re …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

presentνῦνnunG3568
now

νῦν (nun) νῦν, adv., [in LXX chiefly for עַתָּה ;] 1. prop., of time, now, i.e. at the present time: as opposite to past, Jhn.4:18, Act.7:52, Rom.13:11, 2Co.7:9, Col.1:24, al.; opposite to fut., Jhn.12:27, Rom.11:31, al.; with art., ὁ (ἡ, τὸ) and subst., the present: Rom.3:26, Gal.4:25, 1Ti.6:17, Tit.2:12, al.; απὸ τοῦ ν. (LXX for מֵעַתָּה), Luk.1:48, Act.18:6, al.; ἄχρι τοῦ ν., Rom.8:22, Php.1:5; ἕως τοῦ ν. (LXX for עַד עַתָּה), Mat.24:21, Mrk.13:19; τὰ ν., as regards the present, Act.5:38; with pret., just now, but now, Mat.26:65, Jhn.11:8 21:10; with fut., now, presently, Jhn.12:31, Act.20:22; so w …

ageαἰῶνιaiōniG0165G
an age: age

αἰών (aiōn) αἰών, -ῶνος, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for עַד ,עוֹלָם ;] 1. in cl., like Lat. aevum (LS, MM, VGT, see word), a space of time, as, a lifetime, generation, period of history, an indefinitely long period; in NT of an indefinitely long period, an age, eternity, usually with prep. (MM, VGT); (a) of the past: ἀπ᾽ αἰ. (cf. Heb. מֵעוֹלָם), Luk.1:70; …

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