Titus 3:14
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. | And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful. | And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourced"Ours," the believers in Crete, should also learn to devote themselves to good works that meet real needs, so they will not be unfruitful. Helping Zenas and Apollos (3:13) is one example. Titus 3:13Titus 3:14
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 involved"Ours": the believers in Crete. Titus 3:14Titus overview
Paul's last instruction repeats the call of 3:8 to "maintain good works," now applied to practical needs like those in 3:13. Titus 3:8Titus 3:13Titus 3:14
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 eventsTitus was to teach this in Crete. The verse gives no date. Titus 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 wants the Cretan believers to learn useful, fruitful living, not to stay idle. The letter's theme of sound doctrine shown in good works ends here. Titus 3:14Titus overview
In the whole of ScripturePaul writes of being "fruitful in every good work" (Colossians 1:10) and "filled with the fruits of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11). Peter says that if these things abound, believers will be neither "barren nor unfruitful" (2 Peter 1:8). Jesus chose his disciples "that ye should go and bring forth fruit" (John 15:16). Colossians 1:10Philippians 1:112 Peter 1:8John 15:16
For readersFaith shows itself in practical help for real needs. Good works are something believers learn and practice. Titus 3:14Colossians 1:10
- learnμανθάνω
The word means to learn. Strong's G3129
- maintainπροΐστημι
The word means to give attention to, to devote oneself to. It is the same word as in 3:8. Strong's G4291Titus 3:8
- necessaryἀναγκαῖος
The word means necessary. Strong's G0316
- usesχρεία
The word means need, necessity. Strong's G5532
- unfruitfulἄκαρπος
The word means unfruitful, barren. The lexicon lists 2 Peter 1:8 among its other uses. Strong's G01752 Peter 1:8
Takeaway
Believers should learn to devote themselves to good works that meet real needs, so their lives bear fruit. Titus 3:14Colossians 1:10John 15:16
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
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| should learn | μανθανέτωσαν | manthanetōsan | G3129 | to learnμανθάνω (manthanō) μανθάνω [in LXX chiefly for לָמַד ;] 1. to learn, esp. by inquiry: absol., 1Co.14:31, 1Ti.2:11, 2Ti.3:7; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.7:15 (sc. αὐτά), Rom.16:17, 1Co.14:35, Php.4:9, 2Ti.3:14, Rev.14:3; before quaes. indir., Mat.9:13; Χριστόν, Eph.4:20 (ICC, in l); before ἀπό, with genitive of thing(s), Mat.24:32, Mrk.13:28; ἀπό, with genitive of person(s), Mat.11:29, Col.1:7; παρά, with genitive of person(s), 2Ti.3:14; ἐν, with dative of person(s), 1Co.4:6; "point" aorist (M, Pr., 117), to ascertain, before ὅτι, Act.23:27; with accusative before ἀπό, Gal.3:2. … |
| now | δὲ | de | G1161 | thenδέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; … |
| also | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (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. … |
| our own [people] | ἡμέτεροι | hēmeteroi | G1473 | I/weἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). … |
| to good | καλῶν | kalōn | G2570G | goodκαλλίον (kallion) καλλίων, -ον compar. of καλός, see: καλῶς καλῶς adv. (καλός), [in LXX for parts and derivatives of יָטַב ;] finely, rightly, well: Luk.6:48, 1Co.14:17, Gal.4:17 5:7, Jas.2:3; λέγειν, λαλεῖν, etc., Mat.15:7, Mrk.7:6 12:28, Luk.6:26 20:39, Jhn.4:17 8:48 13:13 18:23, Act.28:25; as exclamation of approval, Mrk.12:32, Rom.11:20; κ. ποιεῖν, Mat.12:12, 1Co.7:37-38 Jas.2:8, 19; with dative of person(s) (cl. accusative; WM, § 32, 1 β), Luk.6:27; with accusative of thing(s), Mrk.7:37; with ptcp., Act.10:33 (M, Pr., 131), Php.4:14, 2Pe.1:19, 3Jn.6; προϊστάναι (-ασθαι), 1Ti.3:4 3:12 5:17; διακονεῖν, 1 … |
| works | ἔργων | ergōn | G2041 | workἔργον (ergon) ἔργον, -ου, τό (originally Ϝέργον, work), [very frequently in LXX, chiefly for מַשֶׂה, מְלָאכָה, also for עֲבֹדָה, פֹּעַל, etc. ;] 1. work, task, employment: Mrk.13:34, Jhn.4:34 17:4, Act.13:2, Php.1:22 2:30, 1Th.5:13, al.; of an enterprise or undertaking (Deu.15:10, Wis.2:12), Act.5:38. … |
| to devote themselves | προΐστασθαι | proistasthai | G4291 | to set beforeπροΐστημι (proistēmi) προ-ΐστημι [in LXX: 2Ki.13:17, Pro.23:5 26:17, Isa.43:24, Amo.6:10 (no proper Heb. equiv.), Dan LXX Bel 1:7, 1Ma.5:19, 4Ma.11:27 * ;] 1. trans. in fut., 1 aor., and mid. 1 aor., to put before, set over (Plat., al.). 2. Intrans., in pf., plpf., 2 aor. and mid. Pres. and impf.; (a) to preside, rule, govern: Rom.12:8, 1Ti.5:17; with genitive, 1Th.5:12, 1Ti.3:4-5 3:12; (b) to direct, maintain: with genitive of thing(s), καλῶν ἔργων, Tit.3:8, 14 (on R, mg., profess honest occupations, see CGT, in l; Field, Notes, 223 f.).† (AS) |
| for | εἰς | eis | G1519 | towardεἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; … |
| necessary | ἀναγκαίας | anagkaias | G0316 | necessaryἀναγκαῖος (anagkaios) ἀναγκαῖος, -αῖα, -αῖον (ἀνάγκη), [in LXX: Est.8:13, Wis.16:3, Sir prol.22, 2Ma.4:23 2Mac 9:21, 4Ma.1:2 * ;] 1. necessary: Act.13:46, 1Co.12:22, 2Co.9:5, Php.2:25, Tit.3:14, Heb.8:3; comp. -αιότερον, Php.1:24. 2. Of persons connected by bonds of nature or friendship, near, intimate (Field, Notes, 118; ΜΜ, VGT, see word): ἀ. φίλοι, Act.10:24.† (AS) |
| needs, | χρείας, | chreias | G5532 | needχρεία (chreia) χρεία, -ας, ἡ [in LXX: 2Ch.2:16 (15) (צֹרֶךְ), Est.7:20 (חַשְׁחוּת) frequently in Sir.1:1-30 -2 Mac ;] 1. need, necessity: Act.28:10, Tit.3:14; πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χ. (RV, txt., for edifying as the need may be; but see Field, Notes, 192), Eph.4:29; ἕστι χ., Luk.10:42, Heb.7:11; χ. ἔχειν, with genitive, Mat.6:8 21:3, Mrk.11:3, Luk.9:11 15:7 19:31, 34 22:71, Jhn.13:29, 1Co.12:21 12:24, 1Th.4:12, Heb.10:36, Rev.21:23 22:5; before τοῦ, with inf. (Bl., § 71, 3), Heb.5:12; absol. (sc. genitive), Act.2:45 4:35; with genitive of person(s), Mat.9:12 26:65, Mrk.2:17 14:63, Luk.5:31; with inf. (Bl., § 6 … |
| so that | ἵνα | ina | G2443 | in order that/toἵνα (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); … |
| not | μὴ | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| they may be | ὦσιν | ōsin | G1510 | you areεἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. … |
| unfruitful. | ἄκαρποι.¶ | akarpoi | G0175 | unfruitfulἄκαρπος (akarpos) ἄ-καρπος, -ον, [in LXX: Jer.2:6 (צַלְמָוֶת), Wis.15:4, 4Ma.16:7 ;] unfruitful, barren: figuratively, Mat.13:22, Mrk.4:19, 1Co.14:14, Eph.5:11, Tit.3:14, 2Pe.1:8, Ju 12.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.