1
Παῦλος δοῦλος θεοῦ, ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν θεοῦ καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατ' εὐσέβειαν
Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that accords with godliness,
Letter openingasyndetonThe epistolary superscription: sender named and his standing doubly defined (slave of God, apostle of Christ), then oriented to its purpose — the faith and knowledge of God's chosen people.
ΠαῦλοςPaulNominativesubject (nominative of superscription)Παῦλος: the apostle's Roman cognomen; the Greek letter-opening names the sender first.
δοῦλοςslaveNominativeapposition to Παῦλοςδοῦλος: bondservant, slave — total belonging to a master; 'slave of God' (not 'of Christ' as elsewhere) is a uniquely OT prophetic title (Moses, the prophets as δοῦλοι κυρίου).
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (ownership)θεός: God; Paul belongs wholly to God — the master whose envoy he is.
ἀπόστολοςapostleNominativeapposition to Παῦλοςἀπόστολος: 'one sent,' commissioned envoy; from ἀποστέλλω (send with authority).
δὲandconnective particle (coordinating)δέ: here mild and additive ('and'), linking the two titles slave-of-God and apostle-of-Christ rather than contrasting them.
Ἰησοῦof JesusGenitivegenitive of source/possession
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveappositionΧριστός: 'Anointed,' the Messiah; here functionally a name-title for Jesus, who commissioned the apostle.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/purpose)κατά: here marks the aim/standard governing the apostleship — directed toward faith and knowledge (a 'purposive' nuance).
πίστινfaithAccusativeobject of κατά (goal of the apostolate)πίστις: 'faith, trust'; the apostleship serves to evoke and build the faith of God's people.
ἐκλεκτῶνof the electGenitivesubjective/possessive genitiveἐκλεκτός: 'chosen, elect'; substantival — God's chosen ones, whose faith is in view.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of source (those chosen by God)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπίγνωσινknowledgeAccusativeobject of κατά (coordinate goal)ἐπίγνωσις: 'full/recognitional knowledge' (ἐπί-intensive of γνῶσις); a Pastorals keyword for the experiential grasp of saving truth.
ἀληθείαςof the truthGenitiveobjective genitive (the truth known)ἀλήθεια: 'truth'; in the Pastorals the body of revealed Christian doctrine, set against the 'myths' of the false teachers.
τῆςthe (one)Genitivearticle (with κατ' εὐσέβειαν, attributive)
κατ'according topreposition + accusative (correspondence)κατά: here marks conformity — the truth that issues in and accords with godliness, not mere speculation.
εὐσέβειανgodlinessAccusativeobject of κατά (standard of the truth)εὐσέβεια: 'piety, godliness' (εὖ + σέβομαι, 'revere well'); a hallmark term of the Pastorals — true doctrine is inseparable from a reverent life.
2
ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ζωῆς αἰωνίου, ἣν ἐπηγγείλατο ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεὸς πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων,
in hope of eternal life, which the God who does not lie promised before times eternal,
Ground / basisἐπ'The faith and knowledge of v.1 rest 'upon' a hope: eternal life, anchored in a promise made by the truthful God before time itself.
ἐπ'in/uponpreposition + dative (basis/ground)ἐπί + dat.: here 'resting upon' — the hope is the foundation on which faith and knowledge stand.
ἐλπίδιhopeDativeobject of ἐπί (ground of faith/knowledge)ἐλπίς: 'hope'; not mere wishing but confident expectation grounded in God's promise.
ζωῆςof lifeGenitiveobjective genitive (content of the hope)ζωή: 'life'; the thing hoped for — life of the age to come.
αἰωνίουeternalGenitiveattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal, age-lasting' (from αἰών, 'age'); the unending life of the coming age.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐπηγγείλατο)
ἐπηγγείλατοhe promisedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπαγγέλλομαιmain verb (relative clause)→ constative aoristἐπαγγέλλομαι: 'promise, announce'; the divine pledge that grounds the hope.
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἀψευδὴςwho does not lieNominativeattributive adjectiveἀψευδής: 'without falsehood, who cannot lie' (ἀ- privative + ψεῦδος, 'lie'); a NT hapax — God's truthfulness guarantees the promise, and pointedly contrasts the lying Cretans of v.12.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (time)πρό: 'before'; temporal priority — the promise antedates creation itself.
χρόνωνtimesGenitiveobject of πρό (point of reference)χρόνος: 'time'; the plural with αἰωνίων = 'eternal ages,' the immeasurable past.
αἰωνίωνeternalGenitiveattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: here 'age-long, primeval'; πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων = 'before the ages began' (cf. 2 Tim 1:9), God's eternal purpose.
3
ἐφανέρωσεν δὲ καιροῖς ἰδίοις τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐν κηρύγματι ὃ ἐπιστεύθην ἐγὼ κατ' ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν θεοῦ,
but in his own times he manifested his word in a proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior,
Temporal contrast / fulfillmentδὲThe δέ answers πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων: the long-hidden promise is now, 'in its own times,' brought to light in the preached word entrusted to Paul.
ἐφανέρωσενhe manifestedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φανερόωmain verb (parallel to ἐπηγγείλατο)→ constative aoristφανερόω: 'make visible, reveal' (from φανερός, 'manifest'); the eternal promise is brought into the open in time.
δὲbutadversative/developmental conjunctionδέ: here marks the turn from the eternal promise to its temporal disclosure.
καιροῖςat timesDativedative of time (when)καιρός: 'appointed time, occasion'; the divinely fitting moment of disclosure (cf. 1 Tim 2:6; 6:15).
ἰδίοιςhis ownDativeattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own, proper'; the times God himself fixed for the revealing.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
λόγονwordAccusativedirect object of ἐφανέρωσενλόγος: 'word, message'; God's saving word, the content now made manifest.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐνinpreposition + dative (means/sphere)ἐν: here instrumental/locative — the word is manifested by means of the proclamation.
κηρύγματιproclamationDativeobject of ἐν (means of revealing)κήρυγμα: 'proclamation, what is heralded' (from κῆρυξ, 'herald'); the public preaching that makes the word known.
ὃwith whichAccusativerelative pronoun (retained acc. with passive ἐπιστεύθην)
ἐπιστεύθηνI was entrustedAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · πιστεύωmain verb (relative clause)→ constative aoristπιστεύω (pass.): 'be entrusted with'; the passive of committal — Paul did not seize the proclamation but had it committed to him (cf. 1 Tim 1:11; Gal 2:7).
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: the explicit pronoun lends emphasis — Paul personally was entrusted with this charge.
κατ'bypreposition + accusative (norm/authority)κατά: 'in accordance with, by'; marks the authority behind the entrustment.
ἐπιταγὴνcommandAccusativeobject of κατά (authorizing decree)ἐπιταγή: 'command, injunction'; an authoritative order — Paul's commission rests on divine mandate (cf. 1 Tim 1:1).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
σωτῆροςSaviorGenitivegenitive of source (the one commanding)σωτήρ: 'Savior, deliverer'; a Pastorals keyword applied both to God (here) and to Christ (v.4), framing the salutation.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
θεοῦGodGenitiveapposition to σωτῆροςθεός: God; 'God our Savior' — the OT title for YHWH now woven into the Christian confession.
4
Τίτῳ γνησίῳ τέκνῳ κατὰ κοινὴν πίστιν· χάρις καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν.
to Titus, a true child according to a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Address & greetingasyndetonThe long opening sentence reaches its addressee and the grace-and-peace blessing — Titus named a genuine son in a shared faith, the formal close of the salutation.
Τίτῳto TitusDativeindirect object (addressee)Τίτος: Titus, an uncircumcised Greek convert and trusted coworker of Paul (Gal 2:1–3; 2 Cor 7–8), here left in charge of the Cretan churches.
γνησίῳtrueDativeattributive adjectiveγνήσιος: 'genuine, legitimate' (of a true-born child); affirms the authentic spiritual kinship between Paul and Titus.
τέκνῳchildDativeapposition to Τίτῳτέκνον: 'child'; Titus as Paul's convert/spiritual son — the same warmth used of Timothy (1 Tim 1:2).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/relation)κατά: here defines the basis of the kinship — a shared faith, not natural birth.
κοινὴνcommonAccusativeattributive adjectiveκοινός: 'common, shared'; the one faith held in common by Paul and Titus (and all believers) — note κοινός later means 'profane/defiled,' a sense absent here.
πίστινfaithAccusativeobject of κατά (bond of kinship)πίστις: 'faith'; the shared trust that makes them father and son in the gospel.
χάριςgraceNominativesubject (nom. in greeting formula)χάρις: 'grace'; Paul reshapes the secular χαίρειν greeting into the gift of God's grace.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (coordinate)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; the Hebrew šālôm — wholeness/well-being, the second half of the doubled blessing.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
πατρὸςthe FatherGenitiveapposition to θεοῦπατήρ: 'Father'; the relational name for God, source of grace and peace.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveobject of ἀπό (coordinate source)Χριστός: Father and Christ set in parallel as the one source of grace and peace.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
σωτῆροςSaviorGenitiveapposition (title)σωτήρ: 'Savior'; applied to Christ here as to God in v.3 — the title binds Father and Son in the work of salvation.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
5
Τούτου χάριν ἀπέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ, ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην,
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set right what was lacking and appoint elders town by town, as I directed you —
Purpose statement (body opening)Τούτου χάρινThe letter-body opens with Titus's commission: he was left in Crete to finish ordering the churches and to appoint elders in every town, on Paul's express instruction.
ΤούτουthisGenitivegenitive with χάριν (cause)οὗτος: 'this'; τούτου χάριν = 'for this reason,' pointing forward to the ἵνα-purpose.
χάρινfor the sake ofimproper preposition + preceding genitive (cause)χάριν: adverbial accusative of χάρις used as a postpositive preposition, 'for the sake of, because of.'
ἀπέλιπόνI leftAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀπολείπωmain verb→ constative aoristἀπολείπω: 'leave behind, leave remaining'; Paul left Titus posted in Crete for a task (cf. the cognate λείποντα below — wordplay).
σεyouAccusativedirect object
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ΚρήτῃCreteDativedative of placeΚρήτη: Crete, the large Aegean island; its churches, recently planted, needed organizing — and its inhabitants had a notorious reputation (v.12).
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose)ἵνα: introduces the purpose for which Titus was left.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
λείπονταlacking/remainingPres Act Ptc · Acc Pl Neut · λείπωsubstantival participle (object of ἐπιδιορθώσῃ)→ present (ongoing state)λείπω: 'leave, be lacking'; τὰ λείποντα = 'the things left undone, the deficiencies' still needing attention.
ἐπιδιορθώσῃyou might set rightAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · ἐπιδιορθόωverb of purpose (ἵνα clause)→ constative aoristἐπιδιορθόω: 'set straight, put in further order' (ἐπί + διά + ὀρθόω, 'make straight'); a rare double-compound — to complete the correcting/organizing of the churches.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
καταστήσῃςyou might appointAor Act Subj 2 Sg · καθίστημιverb of purpose (coordinate ἵνα clause)→ constative aoristκαθίστημι: 'appoint, set in charge, install' (κατά + ἵστημι); the formal verb for installing officers.
κατὰin eachpreposition + accusative (distributive)κατά: distributive here — κατὰ πόλιν = 'city by city, in each town.'
πόλινtownAccusativeobject of κατά (distributive)πόλις: 'city, town'; each Cretan town's congregation was to have appointed elders.
πρεσβυτέρουςeldersAccusativedirect object of καταστήσῃςπρεσβύτερος: 'elder' (comparative of πρέσβυς, 'old man'); the leading office, here equated with ἐπίσκοπος (v.7).
ὡςasconjunction (comparison)ὡς: 'as, just as'; introduces the appeal to Paul's prior instruction.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: emphatic — the directive carries Paul's apostolic authority.
σοιyouDativeindirect object
διεταξάμηνdirectedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · διατάσσωmain verb (ὡς clause)→ constative aoristδιατάσσω: 'arrange, command, give orders' (διά + τάσσω, 'order'); a term of authoritative instruction.
6
εἴ τίς ἐστιν ἀνέγκλητος, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ, τέκνα ἔχων πιστά, μὴ ἐν κατηγορίᾳ ἀσωτίας ἢ ἀνυπότακτα.
if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not open to a charge of debauchery or rebellious.
Qualification (condition)εἴThe qualifications for eldership, cast as a condition: blamelessness of life is specified first in the home — marital fidelity and well-ordered, believing children.
εἴifconjunction (conditional)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the qualifications as the condition for appointment ('appoint... if anyone is...').
τίςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)τις: indefinite, 'anyone, someone'; the candidate considered for office.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
ἀνέγκλητοςblamelessNominativepredicate nominativeἀνέγκλητος: 'unaccused, beyond reproach' (ἀ- + ἐγκαλέω, 'bring a charge'); the umbrella qualification — no sustainable accusation can be lodged.
μιᾶςof oneGenitiveattributive (numeral) genitiveεἷς (fem. μία): 'one'; μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ, 'a one-woman man' — marital faithfulness (commonly read against polygamy or unfaithfulness).
γυναικὸςwifeGenitivegenitive of relationshipγυνή: 'woman, wife'; here the elder's spouse, to whom he is to be faithful.
ἀνήρhusbandNominativeapposition to τις (predicate)ἀνήρ: 'man, husband'; the candidate as a faithful husband.
τέκναchildrenAccusativedirect object of ἔχωντέκνον: 'child'; the elder's household is itself a test of his leadership (cf. 1 Tim 3:4–5).
ἔχωνhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωattributive/adjectival participle (modifying τις)→ present (ongoing state)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; describes the candidate's family situation.
πιστάfaithfulAccusativeattributive adjectiveπιστός: 'faithful, believing'; the children are either 'believers' or 'trustworthy/dutiful' — both senses fit the well-ordered home in view.
μὴnotnegative particle (with following nouns/adj.)μή: the negative of qualified/non-indicative description, governing 'in a charge of debauchery or rebellious.'
ἐνunderpreposition + dative (state/condition)ἐν: here 'in the state/condition of' — i.e. not chargeable with.
κατηγορίᾳa chargeDativeobject of ἐν (accusation)κατηγορία: 'accusation, charge' (a legal term, from κατηγορέω); the children give no ground for such an indictment.
ἀσωτίαςof debaucheryGenitivegenitive of content (the charge concerns)ἀσωτία: 'profligacy, dissipation' (ἀ- + σῴζω, lit. 'unsavableness'); reckless, riotous living — the term used of the prodigal's life (Lk 15:13).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction
ἀνυπότακταrebelliousAccusativepredicate adjective (with τέκνα)ἀνυπότακτος: 'insubordinate, unruly' (ἀ- + ὑποτάσσω, 'subordinate'); the same word marks the false teachers in v.10 — the elder's home must not mirror the rebels he opposes.
7
δεῖ γὰρ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνέγκλητον εἶναι ὡς θεοῦ οἰκονόμον, μὴ αὐθάδη, μὴ ὀργίλον, μὴ πάροινον, μὴ πλήκτην, μὴ αἰσχροκερδῆ,
For the overseer must be blameless as God's steward — not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for shameful gain,
Ground / explanationγὰρThe γάρ grounds the demand for blamelessness: the elder is God's household steward, so the bar is high — five vices to be absent are listed.
δεῖit is necessaryPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal main verb (+ inf.)→ gnomic presentδεῖ: 'it is necessary, one must'; impersonal — the qualifications are a binding obligation, not a counsel.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunctionγάρ: introduces the rationale — why blamelessness matters.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἐπίσκοπονoverseerAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἶναιἐπίσκοπος: 'overseer, guardian' (ἐπί + σκοπέω, 'look over'); here interchangeable with πρεσβύτερος (v.5) — the same office viewed by its function of oversight.
ἀνέγκλητονblamelessAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἶναι)ἀνέγκλητος: 'beyond reproach'; resumes the keyword of v.6 — the controlling qualification.
εἶναιto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίcomplementary infinitive (with δεῖ)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'to be'; completes δεῖ — 'must be blameless.'
ὡςasconjunction (capacity/role)ὡς: 'as, in the capacity of'; grounds the demand in the elder's office.
θεοῦGod'sGenitivegenitive of possession (whose steward)θεός: God; the elder manages God's household, not his own — hence accountability.
οἰκονόμονstewardAccusativepredicate accusative (apposition, with ὡς)οἰκονόμος: 'household manager, steward' (οἶκος + νέμω, 'manage a house'); entrusted with another's affairs and answerable for them.
μὴnotnegative particle
αὐθάδηarrogantAccusativepredicate adjective (vice 1)αὐθάδης: 'self-willed, arrogant' (αὐτός + ἥδομαι, 'self-pleasing'); the overbearing person who pleases only himself.
μὴnotnegative particle
ὀργίλονquick-temperedAccusativepredicate adjective (vice 2)ὀργίλος: 'prone to anger, irascible' (from ὀργή, 'wrath'); given to outbursts of temper.
μὴnotnegative particle
πάροινονgiven to wineAccusativepredicate adjective (vice 3)πάροινος: 'addicted to wine, drunken' (παρά + οἶνος, 'beside wine'); also connotes the brawling and abuse that attend drunkenness.
μὴnotnegative particle
πλήκτηνviolentAccusativepredicate accusative (vice 4)πλήκτης: 'striker, bully' (from πλήσσω, 'strike'); a pugnacious man ready with his fists.
μὴnotnegative particle
αἰσχροκερδῆgreedy for gainAccusativepredicate adjective (vice 5)αἰσχροκερδής: 'fond of dishonest gain' (αἰσχρός, 'shameful' + κέρδος, 'gain'); anticipates the false teachers' 'shameful gain' in v.11.
8
ἀλλὰ φιλόξενον φιλάγαθον σώφρονα δίκαιον ὅσιον ἐγκρατῆ,
but hospitable, a lover of good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
Contrast (positive virtues)ἀλλὰThe ἀλλά pivots from the five vices to six answering virtues — the positive profile of the qualified overseer.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but, on the contrary'; sharply turns from what the elder must not be to what he must be.
φιλόξενονhospitableAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 1)φιλόξενος: 'hospitable, fond of strangers' (φίλος + ξένος, 'guest/stranger'); welcoming traveling believers — vital in the early mission.
φιλάγαθονa lover of goodAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 2)φιλάγαθος: 'loving what is good' (φίλος + ἀγαθός, 'good'); a NT hapax — devoted to goodness and good people.
σώφροναsensibleAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 3)σώφρων: 'of sound mind, prudent, self-controlled' (σῶς + φρήν, 'safe mind'); a cardinal Greek virtue prized throughout the Pastorals.
δίκαιονjustAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 4)δίκαιος: 'righteous, just'; upright in dealings with others — the horizontal dimension of character.
ὅσιονdevoutAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 5)ὅσιος: 'holy, devout, pious'; reverent toward God — the vertical counterpart to δίκαιος.
ἐγκρατῆself-controlledAccusativepredicate adjective (virtue 6)ἐγκρατής: 'self-mastered, disciplined' (ἐν + κράτος, 'power within'); in command of his own appetites — the antithesis of the vices in v.7.
9
ἀντεχόμενον τοῦ κατὰ τὴν διδαχὴν πιστοῦ λόγου, ἵνα δυνατὸς ᾖ καὶ παρακαλεῖν ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ καὶ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν.
holding firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able both to exhort in sound teaching and to refute those who contradict.
Qualification (doctrinal)asyndetonThe climactic qualification: a tenacious grip on the reliable word, so that the elder can do two things — build up by sound teaching and tear down error by refutation.
ἀντεχόμενονholding firmly toPres Mid Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἀντέχωattributive participle (modifying ἐπίσκοπον, v.7)→ present (durative; settled grip)ἀντέχομαι: 'cling to, hold fast' (mid. of ἀντέχω, 'hold against'); takes a genitive object — a steadfast adherence to the doctrine.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λόγου)
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (conformity)κατά: 'in accordance with'; the word conforms to the apostolic teaching — 'the word as taught.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
διδαχὴνteachingAccusativeobject of κατά (standard)διδαχή: 'teaching, doctrine' (from διδάσκω); the received body of apostolic instruction.
πιστοῦtrustworthyGenitiveattributive adjectiveπιστός: 'faithful, reliable'; the word is dependable, able to be relied on and held fast.
λόγουwordGenitivegenitive object of ἀντεχόμενονλόγος: 'word, message'; the gospel word the elder must grip.
ἵναso thatconjunction (purpose/result)ἵνα: states the purpose of holding the word — competence in teaching.
δυνατὸςableNominativepredicate nominative (with ᾖ)δυνατός: 'able, powerful, capable'; the elder's doctrinal competence.
ᾖhe may bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of purpose (ἵνα clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'to be'; subjunctive after ἵνα.
καὶbothcorrelative conjunction (καί … καί)καί … καί: 'both … and'; pairs the two tasks of exhorting and refuting.
παρακαλεῖνto exhortPres Act Inf · παρακαλέωepexegetical infinitive (defines δυνατός, task 1)→ present (general)παρακαλέω: 'exhort, encourage, urge' (παρά + καλέω, 'call alongside'); the positive, upbuilding ministry.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (means/sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
διδασκαλίᾳteachingDativeobject of ἐν (instrument of exhortation)διδασκαλία: 'teaching, instruction'; a Pastorals keyword for the body of sound doctrine.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ptc., attributive)
ὑγιαινούσῃsoundPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Fem · ὑγιαίνωattributive participle (modifying διδασκαλίᾳ)→ present (characteristic state)ὑγιαίνω: 'be healthy, sound' (cf. 'hygiene'); a favorite Pastorals metaphor — 'sound/healthy doctrine,' set against the 'sick' teaching of the opponents.
καὶandcorrelative conjunction (καί … καί)
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀντιλέγονταςwho contradictPres Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · ἀντιλέγωsubstantival participle (object of ἐλέγχειν)→ present (ongoing opposition)ἀντιλέγω: 'speak against, contradict, oppose' (ἀντί + λέγω); the gainsayers — the false teachers of vv.10–16.
ἐλέγχεινto refutePres Act Inf · ἐλέγχωepexegetical infinitive (defines δυνατός, task 2)→ present (general)ἐλέγχω: 'expose, refute, convict, reprove'; the negative, corrective task — to demonstrate the error of opponents (cf. v.13).
10
Εἰσὶν γὰρ πολλοὶ ἀνυπότακτοι, ματαιολόγοι καὶ φρεναπάται, μάλιστα οἱ ἐκ τῆς περιτομῆς,
For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
Ground (need for refutation)γὰρThe γάρ grounds the elder's refuting task (v.9) in a present danger: many unruly empty-talkers and deceivers, chiefly from the circumcision party, are at work.
Εἰσὶνthere arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (existential)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'to be, exist'; existential — 'there exist many...'.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunctionγάρ: grounds the need for elders able to refute (v.9).
πολλοὶmanyNominativesubject (substantival adjective)πολύς: 'many'; the scale of the problem — not a fringe but a numerous group.
ἀνυπότακτοιrebelliousNominativeattributive/predicate adjectiveἀνυπότακτος: 'insubordinate, undisciplined' (ἀ- + ὑποτάσσω); echoes v.6 — these refuse all authority, the opposite of the well-ordered elder's home.
ματαιολόγοιempty talkersNominativeapposition (substantival)ματαιολόγος: 'idle/vain talker' (μάταιος, 'empty' + λόγος, 'word'); a NT hapax — their teaching is hollow noise.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
φρεναπάταιdeceiversNominativeapposition (substantival)φρεναπάτης: 'mind-deceiver' (φρήν, 'mind' + ἀπατάω, 'deceive'); a NT hapax — they mislead the understanding of others.
μάλισταespeciallyadverb (superlative, of degree)μάλιστα: 'most of all, especially'; singles out the chief offenders.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantizes the prep. phrase)
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source/group)ἐκ: 'out of, from'; marks party affiliation — 'those from the circumcision.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
περιτομῆςcircumcisionGenitiveobject of ἐκ (the group)περιτομή: 'circumcision' (περιτέμνω, 'cut around'); here metonymy for the Judaizing party — Jewish-Christian teachers pressing law and 'myths' (v.14).
11
οὓς δεῖ ἐπιστομίζειν, οἵτινες ὅλους οἴκους ἀνατρέπουσιν διδάσκοντες ἃ μὴ δεῖ αἰσχροῦ κέρδους χάριν.
who must be silenced — people who are upsetting whole households by teaching what they ought not, for the sake of shameful gain.
Relative expansion (response & indictment)οὓςThe remedy and the charge: such men must be muzzled, for they overturn entire households with illicit teaching driven by greed.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐπιστομίζειν)
δεῖit is necessaryPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal main verb (+ inf.)→ gnomic presentδεῖ: 'one must'; the binding necessity of action against them.
ἐπιστομίζεινto silencePres Act Inf · ἐπιστομίζωcomplementary infinitive (with δεῖ)→ present (general)ἐπιστομίζω: 'stop the mouth, muzzle' (ἐπί + στόμα, 'mouth'); a NT hapax, lit. 'put something over the mouth' — to silence by refutation.
οἵτινεςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (qualitative, subject)ὅστις: 'who(ever), such as'; the qualitative relative — 'people of the sort who...'.
ὅλουςwholeAccusativeattributive adjectiveὅλος: 'whole, entire'; the damage is total — not isolated individuals but whole households.
οἴκουςhouseholdsAccusativedirect object of ἀνατρέπουσινοἶκος: 'house, household'; whole families (the basic unit of the early church) are being subverted.
ἀνατρέπουσινthey upsetPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνατρέπωmain verb (relative clause)→ present (ongoing damage)ἀνατρέπω: 'overturn, upset' (ἀνά + τρέπω, 'turn'); lit. to capsize — they are wrecking the faith of households.
διδάσκοντεςteachingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · διδάσκωadverbial participle (means)→ present (concurrent means)διδάσκω: 'teach'; the means of the subversion — false instruction.
ἃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διδάσκοντες)
μὴnotnegative particle (with δεῖ)μή: negates δεῖ — 'things which one ought not (to teach).'
δεῖthey oughtPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal verb (relative clause)→ gnomic presentδεῖ: 'it is fitting, one ought'; ἃ μὴ δεῖ = 'things that are not proper to teach.'
αἰσχροῦshamefulGenitiveattributive adjectiveαἰσχρός: 'shameful, disgraceful'; the motive is base — echoing αἰσχροκερδῆ in v.7.
κέρδουςgainGenitivegenitive with χάριν (cause/motive)κέρδος: 'gain, profit'; their teaching is a money-making racket, not conviction.
χάρινfor the sake ofimproper preposition + preceding genitive (cause)χάριν: postpositive 'for the sake of'; marks the sordid motive driving the false teaching.
12
εἶπέν τις ἐξ αὐτῶν ἴδιος αὐτῶν προφήτης· Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσται, κακὰ θηρία, γαστέρες ἀργαί.
One of them, a prophet of their own, said: "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
Supporting citationasyndetonCorroboration from within: a Cretan prophet (Epimenides) is quoted convicting his own people of chronic lying, brutishness, and idle gluttony.
εἶπένsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπον): 'say, speak'; introduces the quoted verdict.
τιςoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)τις: 'someone, a certain one'; the unnamed (but identifiable) speaker.
ἐξofpreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: partitive 'one of them' — i.e. a Cretan himself.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivepartitive genitive
ἴδιοςtheir ownNominativeattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own'; stresses that the indictment comes from a fellow Cretan, not an outsider.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivegenitive of relationship (possession)
προφήτηςprophetNominativeapposition to τιςπροφήτης: 'prophet, seer'; traditionally Epimenides of Knossos (6th c. BC), reputed a seer — the line is attributed to his Cretica.
ΚρῆτεςCretansNominativesubject (of the quotation)Κρής: 'Cretan'; the islanders whose proverbial dishonesty gave Greek the verb κρητίζω, 'to lie like a Cretan.'
ἀεὶalwaysadverb (time)ἀεί: 'always, ever'; the hyperbolic 'always' of the proverb — habitual, characteristic lying.
ψεῦσταιliarsNominativepredicate nominativeψεύστης: 'liar' (from ψεύδομαι); the pointed antithesis to the ἀψευδής ('cannot lie') God of v.2.
κακὰevilNominativeattributive adjectiveκακός: 'bad, evil'; qualifies the brutish image that follows.
θηρίαbeastsNominativepredicate nominative (second member)θηρίον: 'wild beast'; savage and untamed — a charge of moral brutishness.
γαστέρεςbelliesNominativepredicate nominative (third member)γαστήρ: 'belly, stomach'; metonymy for gluttony/appetite — 'gluttons' ruled by the belly (cf. Phil 3:19).
ἀργαίlazyNominativeattributive adjectiveἀργός: 'idle, lazy, useless' (ἀ- + ἔργον, 'workless'); 'idle bellies' = lazy gluttons who consume without producing.
13
ἡ μαρτυρία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἀληθής. δι' ἣν αἰτίαν ἔλεγχε αὐτοὺς ἀποτόμως, ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει,
This testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
Endorsement & directiveδι' ἣν αἰτίανPaul endorses the verdict as true and draws the consequence: a sharp rebuke is the loving aim — restored soundness in the faith.
ἡtheNominativearticle
μαρτυρίαtestimonyNominativesubjectμαρτυρία: 'witness, testimony'; the prophet's verdict treated as evidence.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (attributive)οὗτος: 'this'; points back to the quotation just given.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
ἀληθήςtrueNominativepredicate adjectiveἀληθής: 'true'; Paul affirms the proverb's accuracy as applied to the troublemakers — wryly, since a Cretan calling Cretans liars raises the famous paradox.
δι'forpreposition + accusative (cause)διά + acc.: 'because of'; δι' ἣν αἰτίαν = 'for which reason, therefore.'
ἣνthisAccusativerelative/demonstrative adjective (with αἰτίαν)
αἰτίανreasonAccusativeobject of διά (cause)αἰτία: 'cause, reason'; the idiom δι' ἣν αἰτίαν = 'for this reason' (cf. 2 Tim 1:6).
ἔλεγχεrebukePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐλέγχωmain verb (imperative)→ present imperative (ongoing/iterative)ἐλέγχω: 'reprove, refute, convict'; the same verb as v.9 — now an ongoing command to Titus (present aspect: keep on rebuking).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object
ἀποτόμωςsharplyadverb (manner)ἀποτόμως: 'severely, sharply' (from ἀποτέμνω, 'cut off'); rebuke with cutting decisiveness — the disease requires firm treatment.
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose)ἵνα: introduces the redemptive purpose of the sharp rebuke.
ὑγιαίνωσινthey may be soundPres Act Subj 3 Pl · ὑγιαίνωverb of purpose (ἵνα clause)→ present (durative state)ὑγιαίνω: 'be healthy/sound'; the goal of correction is health in the faith — the medical metaphor of v.9 turned toward cure.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
πίστειfaithDativedative of sphere (locus of soundness)πίστις: here 'the faith' as the body of believed truth — the sphere in which they must become healthy.
14
μὴ προσέχοντες Ἰουδαϊκοῖς μύθοις καὶ ἐντολαῖς ἀνθρώπων ἀποστρεφομένων τὴν ἀλήθειαν.
not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
Negative purpose (what soundness excludes)asyndetonSoundness in the faith means turning from the rival authorities: Jewish myths and the precepts of those who themselves reject the truth.
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle)μή: the negative proper to the participle, defining negatively what 'being sound' involves.
προσέχοντεςpaying attentionPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · προσέχωadverbial participle (manner; agrees with subject of ὑγιαίνωσιν)→ present (ongoing)προσέχω: 'attend to, give heed, devote oneself to' (πρός + ἔχω); to fasten the mind on something — here forbidden.
ἸουδαϊκοῖςJewishDativeattributive adjectiveἸουδαϊκός: 'Jewish'; a NT hapax — links these myths to the circumcision party of v.10.
μύθοιςmythsDativeobject of προσέχοντες (dat. complement)μῦθος: 'tale, fable, myth' (cf. 'mythology'); fanciful speculation set against the ἀλήθεια (truth) — a Pastorals concern (1 Tim 1:4; 4:7).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐντολαῖςcommandsDativeobject of προσέχοντες (coordinate)ἐντολή: 'commandment, precept'; here merely human rules (cf. Mk 7:7; Col 2:22), not the divine commands.
ἀνθρώπωνof peopleGenitivesubjective genitive (whose commands)ἄνθρωπος: 'human being, person'; stresses the merely human origin of these precepts.
ἀποστρεφομένωνwho turn away fromPres Mid Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · ἀποστρέφωattributive participle (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ present (settled disposition)ἀποστρέφω (mid.): 'turn away from, reject' (ἀπό + στρέφω, 'turn'); takes an accusative — they deliberately turn their backs on the truth.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἀλήθειανtruthAccusativedirect object of ἀποστρεφομένωνἀλήθεια: 'truth'; the gospel reality (cf. v.1) that these teachers reject — the root of their error.
15
πάντα καθαρὰ τοῖς καθαροῖς· τοῖς δὲ μεμιαμμένοις καὶ ἀπίστοις οὐδὲν καθαρόν, ἀλλὰ μεμίανται αὐτῶν καὶ ὁ νοῦς καὶ ἡ συνείδησις.
To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure — rather, both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Maxim / principleasyndetonAn aphorism diagnosing the false teachers' obsession with ritual purity: defilement lies not in things but in the corrupted person — mind and conscience both.
πάνταall thingsNominativesubject (substantival adjective)πᾶς: 'all, every'; neuter plural 'all things' — comprehensive, in the realm of ritual purity.
καθαρὰpureNominativepredicate adjectiveκαθαρός: 'clean, pure'; the maxim countering food/purity scruples (cf. Rom 14:20; Mk 7:19).
τοῖςto theDativearticle (substantizes adj.)
καθαροῖςpureDativedative of reference (substantival adj.)καθαρός: here of persons — 'the pure,' those cleansed in heart; to them all is clean.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
δὲbutadversative conjunctionδέ: marks the contrasting case — the defiled.
μεμιαμμένοιςdefiledPerf Pass Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · μιαίνωsubstantival participle (dative of reference)→ intensive perfect (settled state of defilement)μιαίνω: 'stain, defile, pollute'; perfect — they stand in a confirmed condition of having been defiled.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπίστοιςunbelievingDativesubstantival adjective (coordinate, dat. of reference)ἄπιστος: 'unbelieving, faithless' (ἀ- + πιστός); their defilement is rooted in unbelief — the opposite of the πίστις of v.13.
οὐδὲνnothingNominativesubject (substantival)οὐδείς: 'no one, nothing'; the stark counter — to them nothing can be pure.
καθαρόνpureNominativepredicate adjectiveκαθαρός: 'clean, pure'; the very faculty that judges purity is itself unclean in them.
ἀλλὰratheradversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but rather'; corrects toward the real locus of defilement.
μεμίανταιare defiledPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωmain verb (sg. with compound subject)→ intensive perfect (abiding result)μιαίνω: 'defile'; perfect passive — their inner faculties are in a fixed defiled state; the singular verb precedes its compound subject.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶbothcorrelative conjunction (καί … καί)καί … καί: 'both … and'; couples the two defiled faculties.
ὁtheNominativearticle
νοῦςmindNominativesubject (first member)νοῦς: 'mind, understanding'; the reasoning faculty — corrupted, it misjudges purity itself.
καὶandcorrelative conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
συνείδησιςconscienceNominativesubject (second member)συνείδησις: 'conscience, moral awareness' (σύν + οἶδα, 'know with'); the inner moral monitor — also defiled, so it no longer functions rightly (cf. 1 Tim 4:2).
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θεὸν ὁμολογοῦσιν εἰδέναι, τοῖς δὲ ἔργοις ἀρνοῦνται, βδελυκτοὶ ὄντες καὶ ἀπειθεῖς καὶ πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἀδόκιμοι.
They profess to know God, but by their works they deny him, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for any good work.
Concluding verdictasyndetonThe chapter's closing indictment: a fatal split between profession and practice — they claim to know God yet deny him in deed, proving themselves worthless for any good.
θεὸνGodAccusativeobject of εἰδέναι (fronted for emphasis)θεός: God; placed first for emphasis — it is God himself whom they claim to know yet deny.
ὁμολογοῦσινthey professPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁμολογέωmain verb (+ inf.)→ customary presentὁμολογέω: 'confess, profess, acknowledge' (ὁμός + λέγω, 'say the same'); their verbal claim to knowledge of God.
εἰδέναιto knowPerf Act Inf · οἶδαcomplementary infinitive (with ὁμολογοῦσιν)→ perfect with present sense (settled knowing)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect form, present meaning); the claim is to a settled, established knowledge of God.
τοῖςtheDativearticle
δὲbutadversative conjunctionδέ: marks the damning contrast between word and work.
ἔργοιςby worksDativedative of means/instrumentἔργον: 'work, deed'; their deeds are the instrument of their denial — actions louder than profession.
ἀρνοῦνταιthey denyPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀρνέομαιmain verb (contrast to ὁμολογοῦσιν)→ customary presentἀρνέομαι: 'deny, disown, refuse'; the exact antonym of ὁμολογέω — they renounce in practice what they confess in word.
βδελυκτοὶdetestableNominativepredicate adjective (with ὄντες)βδελυκτός: 'abominable, detestable' (from βδελύσσομαι, 'loathe'); a NT hapax recalling the LXX 'abomination' (βδέλυγμα) — objects of God's revulsion.
ὄντεςbeingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · εἰμίadverbial participle (cause/attendant circumstance)→ present (ongoing state)εἰμί: 'to be'; the participle introduces the threefold characterization that proves the denial.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπειθεῖςdisobedientNominativepredicate adjective (coordinate)ἀπειθής: 'disobedient, unpersuadable' (ἀ- + πείθω, 'persuade'); they refuse to be convinced or to obey the truth.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πρὸςforpreposition + accusative (reference/aim)πρός + acc.: 'with respect to, for'; marks the sphere in which they are found wanting.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every, all'; sweeping — no good work is exempt.
ἔργονworkAccusativeobject of πρός (reference)ἔργον: 'work, deed'; the good works they cannot perform — pointed irony after the 'works' by which they deny God.
ἀγαθὸνgoodAccusativeattributive adjectiveἀγαθός: 'good'; 'good work' — the recurring Titus emphasis on works that adorn the doctrine (2:7, 14; 3:1, 8).
ἀδόκιμοιunfitNominativepredicate adjective (climactic)ἀδόκιμος: 'failing the test, disqualified, worthless' (ἀ- + δόκιμος, 'approved'); like rejected metal that fails assay — the final verdict on the false teachers.