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Titus 3

Titus 3 grounds gentle conduct and useful service in God’s saving mercy, while setting limits on disputes that divide believers.

Paul tells Titus to remind believers to obey authorities and treat everyone with gentleness. He recalls the disobedience and hatred that once marked their own lives, then describes salvation through God’s mercy and the Holy Spirit’s renewing work. Titus must insist on good works while avoiding fruitless disputes and warning divisive people. The letter closes with plans for a meeting in Nicopolis, instructions to support fellow workers, and a further call to meet practical needs.

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1Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
2to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
3For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
9but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning,
11knowing that such a one is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.
12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.
13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.
14Let our people also learn to maintain good works to meet necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
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Key verses
Titus 3:5God’s mercy is the source of salvation, and the Holy Spirit brings the new life that underlies the chapter’s commands.
Titus 3:3Paul includes himself in the remembered disobedience, grounding the call for humility in a shared need for mercy.
Titus 3:4The appearance of God’s kindness marks the turning point between the old life of hatred and salvation through mercy.
Where this chapter reaches

Ephesians and Romans share Titus 3’s teaching that salvation rests on God’s grace rather than human achievement, alongside a call to changed conduct. John shares its theme of new birth through the Spirit, while 2 Timothy also warns against foolish disputes and calls for gentleness.

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After reading the whole chapter

How does Paul’s account of life before salvation shape your reading of his command to show humility?

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What necessary needs around you come to mind as you read Paul’s closing instructions about good works?

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Questions people ask about Titus 3

What does “washing of regeneration” mean in Titus 3:5?

The phrase describes cleansing and new birth within God’s saving work, joined here to renewal by the Holy Spirit. Christians differ over how it relates to baptism: some understand baptism as the washing in view, while others understand the washing as inward cleansing. The verse places salvation’s source in God’s mercy.

Why does Titus 3 command good works if works cannot save?

Verse 5 rules out righteous deeds as the basis of salvation. Verses 8 and 14 tell those who have believed God to maintain good works because these help people and meet necessary needs. The chapter places useful service after God’s saving mercy, as conduct that belongs to the life he gives.

What is a factious person in Titus 3:10?

A factious person is someone who causes division. The preceding verse names foolish questions, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law as fruitless activities. Titus is told to give two warnings before avoiding such a person. The text addresses persistent divisiveness; it does not identify every disagreement as grounds for exclusion.

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Titus · 3 chapters
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).