Titus 3:8 - Exposition

Faithful is the saying for this is a faithful saying, A.V.; concerning these things for these things, A.V., confidently for constantly, A.V.; to the end that for that, A.V.; God for in God, A.V.; may for might, A.V.; full stop after good works, and colon after men. Faithful is the saying ; as 1 Timothy 1:15 (where see note). Here the faithful saying can only be the following maxim: "That they which have believed in God may be careful to maintain good works;" the words, "These things I will that thou affirm confidently," being interpolated to give yet more weight to it. Concerning these things ; i.e. with respect to the things or truths which are the subject of the faithful saying. I will that thou affirm confidently ( διαβεβαιοῦσθαι ); see 1 Timothy 1:7 . "Never be weary of dwelling on these important truths, and asserting them with authority. For such doctrine is really good and profitable for those whom you are commissioned to teach. But leave alone the foolish and unprofitable controversies." To the end that ( ἵνα ). It is not necessary to give to ἵνα the meaning "to the end that," in such a sentence as this (see note on Titus 2:12 ). After words of command especially, ἵνα , frequently, has simply the force of "that." So here, "lay it down as a rule that they which have believed God must be careful to maintain good works." If the sentence had run on without interruption, it would have been πιστὸς ὁ λόγος ὅτι κ . τ . λ . But the interposition of the διαβεβαιοῦσθαι , with the idea of commanding obedience, has caused the use of ἵνα . Believed God ( οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ or τῷ θεῷ ). The meaning is not the same as πιστεύειν ἐν , or ἐπί , "to believe in," or "on," but "to believe" (as Romans 4:3 , Romans 4:17 and 1 John 5:10 , where the context shows that it is the act of believing God's promise that is meant). And so here, the believing refers to the promises implied in the preceding reference to the hope and the inheritance. May be careful ( φροντίζωσι ); only here in the New Testament, but common in the LXX . and in classical Greek. The word means "to give thought" about a thing, "to be careful" or "anxious" about it. To maintain ( προΐ́στασθαι ); usually in the sense of "presiding over" or "ruling" (as Romans 12:8 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 ; 1 Timothy 3:4 , 1 Timothy 3:5 , 1 Timothy 3:12 ; 1 Timothy 5:17 ). Here, alter the analogy of the classical use, προΐ́στασθαι τέχνης , to "undertake," to "carry on," or the like, fairly expressed by to "maintain." The idea does not seem to be "to stand at the head of," or "to be foremost in." Good works ; i.e. practical godliness of all kinds (see 1 Timothy 1:14 ). These things are good , etc. If the reading of the T.R., τὰ καλὰ κ . τ . λ ., is retained, the rendering ought to be, "These are the things that are really good and profitable unto men, not foolish questions, etc., they are unprofitable." But the R.T. omits the τά . With regard to the interpretation above given of 1 Timothy 1:8 , it must be admitted that it is very doubtful. But the great difficulty of the other way of rendering it, as most commentators do, is that it is impossible to say which part of what precedes is "the faithful saying" alluded to; and that the "care to maintain good works" is not that which naturally springs from it; whereas the reiteration in 1 Timothy 1:8 implies that "good works" is the special subject of "the faithful saying."