inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Titus 2:12)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including Paul and Titus).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Titus 2:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 2:12:

  • Uma: “From his grace, he taught us to stop our behavior that he does not like and the desires of our hearts that we followed before we believed in him. He taught us to make-clear our hearts, make-upright our character and to submit to him while we still living in this world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “From/through that love and mercy of his God teaches us (incl.) that we (incl.) ought not to indulge in our (incl.) greedy desires and to abandon everything that cannot bring us (incl.) towards God. Our (incl.) thoughts should be very good and we (incl.) should be straight people. We (incl.) also ought to follow/obey all God’s commands as long as we (incl.) are here on earth” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And by means of that kindness, we can understand that it is necessary that we abandon the behavior which does not please God and the fulfilling of the desires of our (dual) bodies here on the earth. It is necessary that we restrain our evil desires. It is also necessary that our behavior while we are still living here on the earth is righteous and pleasing to God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because of this grace/mercy of his, he is teaching us to turn-our-backs-on all that distances us from him and all that worldly people desire in order that we will control ourselves and we will follow righteous and godly behavior while we are present in this world.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well this grace/mercy of God is what causes us to comprehend that it’s necessary that we drop/give-up whatever is contrary to his will. It’s necessary that we drop/give-up the desires which are not good which are indulged in by those who haven’t believed. It/he also causes us to comprehend that it’s necessary for us to control ourselves, to live righteous/straight lives, which are always in harmony with the will of God as long as we are still here under the heavens.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because he gave us grace, now it is wanted that we separate from evil. Also the desires here on earth which are bad, let us separate from. Now it is necessary that while we live here in the world, we must watch ourselves well. We must live good. We must revere God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

age / (for)ever / eternity / eternal / permanent / of old / long ago

The Greek in the referenced verses that is typically translated as “age,” “(for)ever / eternity / eternal / permanent,” “of old / long ago” in English is translated in the German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) consistenty as “world (or: “cosmic”) time” (Weltzeit).

Sarah Ruden (2021, p. lxii) explains the complexities of the translation of aiōn: “Trickiest of all [the words relating to time] is aion, most simply an ‘age’ or ‘era’ but sometimes denoting either the whole present world or the whole world to come. The same word can allude to all the limits of material existence (or to dangerous worldly distractions in particular), or to their absence in the eternal age to come. Looking forward, especially to ‘ages of ages’ (in the pattern of ‘King of Kings’), the meaning is ‘eternity.’”

Translation commentary on Titus 2:12

This verse is part of a long sentence that begins in verse 11 and ends in verse 14, a form that is retained by Revised Standard Version. Many translations start a new sentence here in order to clearly indicate that the subject of this verse is “grace” mentioned in verse 11 (for example, Good News Translation “That grace,” Translator’s New Testament “It”).

This verse relates “grace” to Christian behavior, that is, it is revealed for the purpose of showing Christians how to live properly in this world. “Grace” is here personified, since it is able to train; this may be a problem in some languages, in which case the verse can be restructured to show that it is indeed God who does the training, and “grace” is God’s instrument (for example, “By this grace God instructs us” or “Through his kindness God…”; compare Revised English Bible “and by it we are disciplined…”).

Training translates a participial form of the verb that refers to the education and disciplining of a child; hence “to teach,” “to instruct,” “to discipline” (see further on “learn” in 1 Tim 1.20 and on “correcting” in 2 Tim 2.25). The object of training is us, which in this context is a general reference to Christians, including Titus, and therefore should be translated as inclusive. The instruction consists of negative and positive elements. Negatively we are to renounce (“give up,” see “disowned” in 1 Tim 5.8) irreligion and worldly passions.

Irreligion is the negative form of the word often used in these letters to mean “godliness” or “religion,” hence “godlessness,” “ungodliness.” See further on 2 Tim 2.16. Other ways of expressing this are “wicked ways” (Contemporary English Version), “way of life which does not reverence God.”

Worldly translates a term that pertains to systems or standards of this world, with the implication that this world is bad or corrupt. For passions see “desires” and comments in 1 Tim 6.9. Worldly passions are desires that are according to worldly standards resulting in immoral behavior and therefore against the will of God.

Positively we are to live lives characterized by sobriety, uprightness, and godliness. For sober see “sensible” in 1 Tim 3.2; for upright see on Titus 1.8; for godly see 2 Tim 3.12. For in this world see on 1 Tim 6.17.

Alternative translation models for the first part of this verse are:

• God’s kindness to us instructs us to renounce our [inclusive] wicked ways (or, sinful life) and worldly desires …

Or:

• Through his kindness God teaches us [inclusive] to …

Or:

• He [God] taught us …

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .