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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
- KJV And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
- NKJV And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
- NASB Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive.
- NLT Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.
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
Believers should learn to devote themselves to good works to meet pressing needs, so their lives are fruitful. It matters because faith expresses itself in practical, productive love.
Overview
Picking up the request of verse 13, Paul broadens it into a principle: 'our people' should learn to engage in good works that meet real needs. This keeps believers from being 'unfruitful,' useless in their Christian lives. Productive love is the natural fruit of those saved by grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Col 1:10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Titus 3:8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
- Matt 7:19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Phil 1:11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Luke 13:6–9Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
- 2 Pet 1:8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Eph 4:28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- Phil 4:17Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
- John 15:8This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
- John 15:16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
- 2 Th 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- Acts 20:35In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- Matt 21:19Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
- Isa 61:3to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
- Acts 18:3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
- Heb 6:6–12and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
- 1 Th 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- Rom 15:28So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.
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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 3:14 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
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