This 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.
Parallel translations
- WEB This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
- KJV This 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.
- NKJV This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
- NASB This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.
- NLT This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
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
This is a trustworthy saying, and Titus is to insist on it so believers will devote themselves to good works that benefit everyone. It matters because grace-based salvation rightly leads to a life of good works.
Overview
Paul calls the preceding gospel summary 'faithful' and wants it taught with confidence. Far from making good works unnecessary, grace is meant to produce them: those who trust God should be careful to 'maintain good works.' Such works are 'good and profitable to men,' blessing the wider community.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Titus 3:14And 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.
- Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Titus 1:9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
- Ps 16:2–3I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
- Titus 3:1Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
- Rom 4:5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
- 1 Tim 1:15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
- 1 Pet 1:21Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.
- John 5:24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- John 12:44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
- Job 22:2“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
- 1 Jn 5:10–13Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
- Phlm 1:11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
- Ps 78:22because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
- Prov 21:28A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
- 2 Cor 4:13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
- 2 Cor 9:12–15For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
- Acts 12:15“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
- Job 35:7–8If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?
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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 3:8 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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