Titus 3:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

NIV: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

NASB: For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

CSB: For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

NLT: Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

KJV: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

NKJV: For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

Verses 1 and 2 emphasize how believers ought to behave. Verse 3 shows the contrast of how former non-believers, including both Paul and Titus, had previously lived in sin. Seven specific sins common to unbelief are noted: 1) foolishness (meaning irrationality), 2) disobedience, 3) being misled, 4) being addicted to desires and experiences, 5) living in evil, 6) living in jealousy, and 7) living in hatred towards one another.

Interestingly, verses 1–2 give seven commands while verse 3 gives a list of seven sins. Each of these concepts is intentionally contrasted against the other, showing the way believers are to live, as opposed to their previous actions. Verse 4 will strengthen this contrast. The difference between a godly and ungodly life is Jesus Christ and the salvation He brings. All three persons of the triune God are involved in our transformation, including God (Titus 3:4), the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), and Jesus Christ (Titus 3:7).

Titus 3:1–3 applies the teachings Paul gave Titus in chapters 1 and 2. Crete was famous for its immoral culture, but this letter encourages Christians to live according to better principles. This passage contrasts seven worthy behaviors (associated with belief), to seven sins (associated with unbelief). Paul tells Titus to “remind” people of these ideas, meaning they have been taught already.

Paul reminds Titus of seven positive behaviors, and seven contrasting sins, which he is to insist on teaching correctly. False teachers are to be cut off, not given a public platform. Believers are not to waste time bickering, but focus on good works and urgent needs. This passage also explains how salvation is entirely the result of God’s grace, not our own good deeds.

Titus chapter 1 focused on the character traits of a church leader, contrasted to the immoral culture of Crete. Chapter 2 explained the ideal traits of church members, especially in their acts towards each other. Chapter 3 focuses on the relationship between Christians and their surrounding culture. Through goodness and peace, we are to make a positive impact, so people will see Christ in us.

The book of Titus is a letter written by the apostle Paul, to a Christian leader on the island of Crete. This is one of Paul’s three Pastoral Epistles, where he offers instructions to younger believers caring for large groups of others. Paul uses the book of Titus to emphasize the importance of selecting church elders carefully. Many of the topics discussed in Titus are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Though the details of this message are specifically for Titus, and the believers of Crete, they offer insight useful for churches today.