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For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Titus 1:10 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
  • BSB For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
  • NKJV For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
  • NASB For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
  • NLT For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul warns that many rebellious people are spreading empty, deceptive talk, especially some from the circumcision party. It matters because false teaching threatens the very churches Titus is ordering.

Overview

The need for doctrinally sound elders is urgent because many in Crete are insubordinate, talk emptily, and deceive others. 'Those of the circumcision' likely refers to Jewish-Christian teachers pressing legalistic or mythical additions to the gospel. Their presence explains why elders must be able to refute opponents.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 25

  • 1 Tim 1:6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
  • 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
  • Gal 2:4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
  • Eph 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
  • Jas 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
  • Rom 16:17–18Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
  • Gal 1:6–8I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
  • 1 Tim 6:3–5If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
  • 2 Tim 3:13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
  • Acts 11:2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
  • 2 Pet 2:1–2But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
  • 1 Jn 2:18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
  • Rev 2:6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
  • Acts 20:29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
  • 2 Cor 11:12–15But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
  • Gal 4:17–21They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
  • Gal 3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
  • Gal 5:1–4Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  • Phil 3:2–3Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
  • 2 Th 2:10–12And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
  • 1 Tim 1:4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
  • 2 Tim 4:4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
  • Rev 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
  • Acts 15:1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
  • Acts 15:24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Titus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Titus 1:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on TitusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

We await 'the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us' and purify a people of his own.

How Titus 1:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.