And (Greek “and also”) marks the relation of this verse with what immediately precedes, namely, providing for the needs of the two travelers, Zenas and Apollos. Paul takes this opportunity to once again inculcate into the minds of the Cretan Christians the overarching theme of the letter, which is to do good. The meaning seems to be that, as Titus is urged to help the two travelers, so the Cretan Christians must also learn to help others.

Our people refers to the Cretan Christians; the our should be translated as inclusive, with the exception of languages where the dual form exists, in which case it should be used here to give the meaning “your people and mine.” In some languages it will be helpful to translate our people as “Cretan Christians” or “the believers in Crete.” Learn is in the present tense, which indicates a continuing process; moreover, what is meant here is perhaps not formal instruction but learning from actual practice and experience; hence “have the habit of,” “be in the habit of,” “practice regularly.”

For to apply themselves to good deeds, see 2TI.3.8 of this chapter. As already noted, engaging in good deeds is a theme that frequently occurs in the letter (see, for example, 1.16; 2.7, 14; 3.1). Regarding the RSV footnote, namely “enter honorable occupations,” see 3.8b. (Phillips in fact reflects this position: “learn to earn what they need by honest work”; this justifies him to translate the last clause as “and so be self-supporting.”) It does seem, though, that since the expression “doing good deeds” is used in a generic way in previous occurrences in the letter, it would be logical to expect the same generic meaning here, in which case the Revised Standard Version footnote would not be necessary. It should be noted that this note is omitted in New Revised Standard Version.

One purpose of these good deeds is “to meet urgent needs” (New Revised Standard Version). The word for urgent can also mean “necessary,” which means that these needs are “real” (Good News Translation), “genuine” (Translator’s New Testament). These may refer to the needs of the Cretan Christians themselves (compare New Jerusalem Bible “for their practical needs,” Phillips “what they need,” New International Version “daily necessities”), or more likely needs in general (compare New English Bible “the necessities of life,” also Revised English Bible).

A further purpose of doing good deeds is so that they may not be unfruitful (“unproductive” [New Revised Standard Version]). This continues to refer to the Cretan Christians. “Unproductive” may be another way of expressing the Greek figure, which is literally “without fruit,” an appropriate figure for a useless life, and in many languages it will be translated that way. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation do not clearly mark this as purpose; in fact it can interpreted as a negative restatement of the first part of the verse; this is made clear by putting the two parts together: let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds … and not to be unfruitful. Or Good News Translation “Our people must learn to spend their time doing good … they should not live useless lives.” Other translations reflecting this position include New International Version “and not live unproductive lives,” Jerusalem Bible “and not to be entirely unproductive,” New Jerusalem Bible “and not to be unproductive,” also Revised English Bible. This may be a valid rendering of the text. However, since in the Greek this clause starts with “so that” (New Revised Standard Version), it is probably better to regard this as a purpose of doing good deeds.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• The Cretan Christians must be in the habit of doing good deeds in order to provide for the real needs of people. This will help them [the Christians] to have productive lives.

Or:

• The believers in Crete should lead productive lives (or, lives that bear fruit). So they must be in the habit of doing good deeds in order to provide for the daily necessities of others.

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 .