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Titus 3:8

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.

KJV

πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις·

Greek NT

Fidelis sermo est : et de his volo te confirmare : ut curent bonis operibus præesse qui credunt Deo. Hæc sunt bona, et utilia hominibus.

Vulgate

Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

ASV

It is a faithful saying. And these things I will have thee affirm constantly, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

19 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

βούλομαι
boulomai
verb · 36×
διαβεβαιόομαι
diabebaioomai
verb · 2×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καλός
kalos
adjective · 100×
λόγος
logos
noun · 330×
οὗτος
outos
demonstrative · 1380×
περί
peri
preposition · 335×
πιστεύω
pisteuo
verb · 241×
πιστός
pistos
adjective · 67×
προΐστημι
proistemi
verb · 8×
σύ
su
pronoun · 1071×
φροντίζω
phrontizo
verb · 1×
ἄνθρωπος
anthropos
noun · 549×
ἔργον
ergon
noun · 169×
ἵνα
ina
conjunction · 665×
o
article · 19778×
ὠφέλιμος
ophelimos
adjective · 4×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: ἐστιν | WH/Treg/NIV: ἐστιν | RP: + τὰ
  • ἐστινSBLGNT
  • ἐστινWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + τὰRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

The Formula affirms that good works necessarily follow faith and are the fruit of the Spirit, pleasing to God for Christ's sake. Believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works. It denies both that works are necessary for salvation (as a cause) and that believers may live lawlessly. Works are necessary as evidence of faith, not as a ground of acceptance before God.

Cross-references

  • 1John 5:10 — He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
  • 1Pet 1:15 — But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
  • 1Pet 1:21 — Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
  • 1Tim 1:15 — This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
  • 1Tim 1:15 — This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
  • 1Tim 2:8 — I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
  • 1Tim 3:1 — This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
  • 1Tim 4:8 — For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
  • 1Tim 4:11 — These things command and teach.
  • 1Tim 5:10 — Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed
  • 1Tim 6:18 — That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
  • 2Cor 7:11 — For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement des
  • 2Cor 9:8 — And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
  • 2Tim 2:11 — It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
  • 2Tim 2:21 — If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
  • Acts 9:36 — Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
  • Deut 6:17 — Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
  • Eph 2:10 — For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
  • Gal 6:10 — As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
  • Heb 10:24 — And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
  • Jas 2:14 — What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
  • Job 22:2 — Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
  • John 5:24 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
  • John 12:44 — Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
  • Matt 5:19 — Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
  • Matt 26:10 — When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
  • Num 7:5 — Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.
  • Phlm 1:11 — Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
  • Ps 16:2 — O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
  • Ps 78:22 — Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
  • Rom 4:5 — But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
  • Titus 1:9 — Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
  • Titus 2:1 — But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
  • Titus 2:14 — Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
  • Titus 2:14 — Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
  • Titus 3:1 — Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
  • Titus 3:1 — Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
  • Titus 3:14 — And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
  • Titus 3:14 — And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.