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Verse
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Titus 3:8
ESV The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
NIV This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
NASB This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.
CSB This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.
NLT This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
KJV This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
NKJV This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

What does Titus 3:8 mean?

Here, Paul refers to the poetic statement running from verses 4–7 as "trustworthy." Salvation by grace through faith was Paul's core teaching. He had personally experienced God's grace on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Paul knew his changed life was not the result of his many works as a devout Jew, but was the result of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Paul told Titus to "insist," or demand, these teachings. These were not preferences, but core points of the earliest Christian church. The purpose of holding to these foundations was to cause believers to make a purposeful commitment to doing good deeds. These good works do not earn salvation; good works are the result of salvation. A person changed by God will seek to live for Him.

Paul affirmed that these things were "beneficial," or "profitable," for all people. This is not meant in the sense of money, but that healthy, sound doctrine was beneficial to the church. By comparison, the unhealthy teachings of the false teachers on Crete were poisonous.
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