Titus 3

Titus · Chapter 3

Titus 3:9

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Titus is to avoid foolish questions, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law. These things are unprofitable and empty. They stand in contrast to the good works that are "good and profitable" (3:8). Titus 3:8Titus 3:9

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 involvedTitus, and the people in Crete who stirred up these disputes. Titus 3:9Titus overview

Paul sets two things side by side: good works that profit people (3:8) and disputes that profit nobody (3:9). He then says how to deal with a divisive person (3:10-11). Titus 3:8Titus 3:9Titus 3:10

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

HereFalse teachers in Crete were spreading "Jewish fables" (1:14). Paul wants Titus to spend his time on sound teaching, not on arguments that go nowhere. Titus 1:14Titus overviewTitus 3:9

In the whole of ScripturePaul gave Timothy the same charge: "foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes" (2 Timothy 2:23). He told Timothy to "refuse profane and old wives' fables" (1 Timothy 4:7), and told Titus not to heed "Jewish fables" (1:14). 2 Timothy 2:231 Timothy 4:7Titus 1:14

For readersNot every argument about the Bible is worth having. Believers should steer clear of disputes that only breed strife and build no one up. Titus 3:92 Timothy 2:23

  • foolishμωρός
    Greek · mōros · G3474

    The word means dull, stupid, foolish. Strong's G3474

  • genealogiesγενεαλογία
    Greek · genealogia · G1076

    The word means a genealogy or pedigree. The lexicon lists its other use at 1 Timothy 1:4. Strong's G1076

  • about the lawνομικός
    Greek · nomikos · G3544

    The word means relating to law. The same word is "lawyer" in 3:13. Strong's G3544Titus 3:13

  • avoidπεριΐστημι
    Greek · periistēmi · G4026

    The word means to turn oneself about to avoid, to shun. The lexicon lists the same use in 2 Timothy 2:16. Strong's G4026

  • vainμάταιος
    Greek · mataios · G3152

    The word means vain or useless. Strong's G3152

Takeaway

Avoid foolish questions, genealogies and quarrels about the law. They are unprofitable and empty. Titus 3:92 Timothy 2:23Titus 1:14

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
FoolishμωρὰςmōrasG3474
foolish

μωρός (mōros) μωρός, -ά, -όν [in LXX for נָבָל, etc.; frequently in Sir. ;] 1. prop., of the nerves, dull, sluggish (Hipp., Arist.). 2. Of the mind, dull, stupid, foolish: Mat.5:22 (see Field, Notes, 3 ff.) Mat.7:26 23:17, 19 (T, WH, txt., R, om.) Mat.25:2-3, 8, 1Co.3:18 4:10; of things, παράδοσις, Mrk.7:13 (T, WH, txt., R, om.) : ζητήσεις, 2Ti.2:23, Tit.3:9; τὸ μ. τ. θεοῦ, 1Co.1:25; τὰ μ. τ. κόσμου, 1Co.1:27.† (AS)

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (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.; …

controversiesζητήσειςzētēseisG2214
controversy

ζήτησις (zētēsis) ζήτησις, -εως, ἡ (ζητέω). 1. a seeking, search. 2. a questioning, inquiry, debate: Act.15:2, 7, 2Ti.2:23, Tit.3:9; before περί, Jhn.3:26, Act.25:20, 1Ti.6:4.† (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. …

genealogiesγενεαλογίαςgenealogiasG1076
genealogy

γενεαλογία (genealogia) γενεαλογία, -ας, ἡ (see previous word); 1. the making of a pedigree. 2. a genealogy: pl., 1Ti.1:4, Tit.3:9 (see CGT, in l., and ib. Intr., xlix ff.; DB, ii, p. 141). † (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. …

argumentsἔρειςereisG2054
quarrel

ἔρις (eris) ἔρις, -ιδος accusative, ἔριν (on the declension, see B1., § 8, 3; WH, App., 157), ἡ, [in LXX: Psa.139:20, Sir.28:11 40:5, 9 * ;] strife, wrangling, contention: Rom.1:29 13:13, 1Co.3:3, 2Co.12:20, Gal.5:20, Php.1:15, 1Ti.6:4, Tit.3:9; pl. (see: ἐριθία), Rom.13:13, WH, mg., 1Co.1:11, Ga, l.with, WH, mg.† (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. …

quarrelsμάχαςmachasG3163
quarrel

μάχη (machē) μάχη, -ης, ἡ (μάχομαι), [in LXX chiefly for רִיב ;] 1. a fight. 2. a strife, contention, quarrel: 2Co.7:5, 2Ti.2:23, Jas.4:1; pl., Tit.3:9.† (AS)

about [the] LawνομικὰςnomikasG3544
lawyer

νομικός (nomikos) νομικός, -ή, -όν (νόμος), [in LXX: 4Ma.5:4 * ;] 1. relating to law: μάχαι, Tit.3:9. 2. learned in the law; as subst., ὁ ν. (EV, lawyer): Mat.22:35, Luk.10:25, Tit.3:13; pl., Luk.7:30 11:45-46, 52 14:3 (cf. MM, xvii).† SYN.: γραμματεύς, q.v (AS)

do yourself avoid;περιΐστασο·periistasoG4026
to stand around

περιΐστημι (periistēmi) περι-ίστημι (Rec. ΐστημι) [in LXX: Jos.6:3 (סָבַב), 2Ki.13:31 (נָצַב ni.), 1Ki.4:16, Ep. Jer.37:1-21, Jdth.5:22, 2Ma.14:9 * ;] 1. to place around. 2. to stand around: Jhn.11:42; with accusative of person(s), Act.25:7. Mid. (in late writers), to turn oneself about to avoid, to shun: with accusative of thing(s), 2Ti.2:16, Tit.3:9.† (AS)

they areεἰσὶνeisinG1510
you are

εἶ (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. …

forγὰρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

unprofitableἀνωφελεῖςanōpheleisG0512
useless

ἀνωφελής (anōphelēs) ἀν-ωφελής, -ές (ἀ- neg., ὄφελος), [in LXX: Isa.44:10 (יָעַל בִּלְתִּי) Jer.2:8 (יָעַל לֹא), Pro.28:3, Wis.1:11 * ;] unprofitable: Tit.3:9; neut. as subst., unprofitableness: Heb.7:18.† (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. …

worthless.μάταιοι.mataioiG3152
futile

μάταιος (mataios) μάταιος, -ον (as in Att.., but -αία, -αιον, 1Co.15:17, 1Pe.1:18; μάτην), [in LXX for שָׁוְא, הֶבֶל, כָּזָב, etc. ;] vain, useless: ἀνωφελὴς κ. μ., Tit.3:9; πίστις, 1Co.15:17; θρησκεία, Jas.1:26; διαλογισμοί, 1Co.3:20 (LXX); ἀναστροφή, 1Pe.1:18; of idols and heathen gods, τὰ μ. (Jer.2:5, 4Ki.17:15, al.): Act.14:15 SYN.: κενός, q.v (AS)

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