3:11a

knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful: The term such a man refers to any divisive person, any person who will not listen to Titus’ warnings. Paul was not talking about a specific person, but about any and all people who caused divisions in the church. So in some languages it may be natural to use a plural form. For example:

You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful (New International Version (2011 Revision))

corrupt: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as corrupt describes people who are not upright and straightforward in their character and behavior. Figuratively speaking, they are twisted.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

warped (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
perverted (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
deviated from what is right (New American Standard Bible)

sinful: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sinful is a verb that describes someone who habitually or regularly sins.

3:11b

he is self-condemned: This type of person condemns himself by the way he behaves. This means that the sinful things that these people do make it clear to everyone that they are sinners, in the wrong. Their sinful behavior shows what sort of people they are and proves that that they are in the wrong.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

their own sins show how guilty they are (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
their sins prove that they are wrong (Good News Bible)
-or-
condemned by their own actions (God’s Word)

Section 3:12–15
Final instructions and greetings

This is the final section of the letter. Paul concludes the letter with instructions about Titus’ situation, closing greetings, and a blessing.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:12a

As one of their own prophets has said: The words has said here indicate that this prophet spoke the words of 1:12b–d some time before Paul wrote this letter to Titus. He probably spoke and wrote this several hundred years beforehand. Use an appropriate way to indicate that. For example:

One of Crete’s own prophets said this long ago

one of their own prophets: This phrase indicates that this man was from, or lived in, the island of Crete.

prophets: Here the word prophets refers to people who spoke on behalf of one of the gods of Crete. The usual meaning of prophets in the New Testament refers to people who speak on behalf of God. Your translation should not indicate or imply that this person spoke on behalf of God. You may need to make it explicit that Paul was referring to spokesmen of the idols whom the people of Crete worshiped. For example:

spokesmen of their gods
-or-

pagan prophets

1:12b

Cretans are always liars: This clause is an exaggeration. It means that the people who lived in Crete had the habit of telling lies.

The prophet who was speaking was himself a Cretan. But he was not saying that he was telling a lie. So in some languages it may be necessary to remove the exaggeration in order to convey the correct meaning. For example:

Cretans are habitual liars
-or-

We Cretans certainly tell many lies

Cretans: This word means “the people of Crete.”

1:12c

evil beasts: The phrase “Cretans are” is implied from 1:12b. In some languages it is more natural to make this a clause. For example:

and they are evil brutes

This phrase compares Cretans to wild animals who do bad things. This is a figure of speech, a metaphor. It means that they acted without self-control or good morals. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keeping the metaphor. For example:

they are wicked wild animals

• Using a simile. For example:

they are like wicked wild animals

• Explaining the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

they are wicked and unrestrained, like wild animals

• Translate only the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

they are wicked and wild people

If you do this, you may then want to give a literal translation of the Greek in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally, “wicked wild animals.”

Translate this figure of speech in the way that is most natural in your language and allows your readers to understand the correct meaning.

1:12d

lazy gluttons: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lazy gluttons is more literally “lazy/idle stomachs.” It refers to people who are focused on eating and drinking rather than working. Their lives are centered around eating and drinking.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

lazy people who are always eating
-or-
too lazy to work but not too lazy to eat
-or-
They are lazy but love to eat.
-or-
They eat/consume a lot but do not work.

This phrase concludes the quotation from the Cretan prophet.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

2:7a

In everything: There are two ways to understand the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In everything:

(1) It belongs with the instruction that follows, that Titus set a good example. For example:

in all things show yourself to be an example (New American Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) It belongs with the instruction in 2:6 that young men be “self-controlled.” For example:

⁶Similarly, urge younger men to be moderate in everything that they do, ⁷and you yourself set an example of good works (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)

Either interpretation is acceptable and has scholarly support. You may wish to follow the interpretation in the major language version in your area.

2:7b

show yourself to be an example: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as show yourself to be an example is more literally “showing yourself as an example.” Paul wanted Titus to act in a good way so that he could be a model for the other young men to follow.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

set them an example (New International Version (2011 Revision))

or

act as a model

by doing good works: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates by doing good works is more literally “of good works.” It refers to actions that please God and help other people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

of good works (English Standard Version)

or

of good behavior (Good News Bible)

2:7c

In your teaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as teaching here probably refers both to the actual work of teaching and to its content.

In some languages it may be natural to translate this phrase as a dependent clause. It may also be necessary to supply an object and indicate whom Titus was to teach. For example:

When you are teaching (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
When you teach the believers (Easy English Bible)

show integrity: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as integrity means “soundness” or “without corruption.” Titus should teach things that he knew to be true, because he knew them to be true. He should not say things for selfish reasons or say what he did not really believe.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

do it with honesty (New Century Version)

or

be sincere (Contemporary English Version)

dignity: This Greek word is similar to the one in 2:2b that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “dignified.” Both Titus’ behavior while teaching and the content of what he taught should not be silly or lightweight. He should teach in a way that was worthy of respect.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

seriousness (New International Version (2011 Revision))

or

gravity (New Revised Standard Version)

General Comment on 2:7c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the phrases in this verse part. For example:

Be sincere and serious when you teach. (Contemporary English Version)

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.