Titus 3

slander
The Greek verb βλασφημέω (blasphēmeō) is rendered as “slander.” In this translation, when the word refers to human people and doctrine it is rendered as “slander” (e. g., 1 Tim 6:1; 1 Pet 4:4). But when it refers to God and other supernatural entities, it is “blaspheme” (e. g., 2 Pet 2:10–12; Jude 8–10). Here, Paul instructs Titus to remind the church at Crete not to slander, or speak maliciously or damagingly against anyone. Rather, they should pursue peace and demonstrate gentleness toward everyone.

foolish
Placing “foolish” at the end of this phrase more accurately represents the word order in Greek (ἦμεν γάρ ποτε καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀνόητοι; hēmen gar pote kai hēmeis anoētoi). This construction in Greek places these unfavorable attributes together in a list—foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, etc. (ἀνόητοι, ἀπειθεῖς, πλανώμενοι, δουλεύοντες…; anoētoi, apeitheis, planōmenoi, douleuontes…). Paul is piling these terms one upon another to emphasize the depraved and helpless state of every believer before being saved by the grace of God. The translation here preserving the original word order as much as possible helps to more clearly bring out this emphasis in English.

despicable
Though some English translations render the last two characteristics in this verse as if they are cognate words (“hateful, hating one another”), they are actually two distinct terms in Greek—the adjective στυγητοί (stygētoi) and the verbal μισοῦντες (misountes). The translation here maintains these as synonyms while showing their distinction as seperate words by translating the former as “despicable” and the latter as “hating.” While the meanings are similar, this translation seeks to distinguish between synonyms where possible.

by works
“By works” renders the distinct Greek phrase ἐξ ἔργων (ex ergōn), which is used by Paul 13x throughout his letters (Rom 3:20; 4:2; 9:12, 32; 11:6; Gal 2:16 [3x]; 3:2, 5, 10; Eph 2:9; here), all to demonstrate that God’s salvation by grace alone, or as Paul puts it here, “according to His mercy.” The phrase is rendered consistently as either “by works” or “of works” everywhere it appears.

become
Some translations render this as “be made,” but the Greek verb used here is γίνομαι (ginomai), the word for “becoming.” Though technically used in the passive voice here (γενηθῶμεν; genēthōmen), this word is very difficult to translate with a passive in English and is thus best translated as a middle. “Become” accurately conveys the sense here, and with the context of the previous two verses, it is very clear that this becoming is not something that the believers themselves affect, but something that God accomplishes for them.

saying
This is rendered as “saying” rather than “statement” (Gk: λόγος; logos) to more clearly emphasize the proverbial nature of what Paul is saying here. This characteristic phrase used in the Pastoral Epistles, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος (pistos ho logos), is rendered as “It is a trustworthy saying” throughout Paul’s letters to Timothy (1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11) and similarly as “This is a trustworthy saying” here.

lead
Here the Greek word προΐστημι (proistēmi) is rendered as “lead.” In the pastoral epistles the word consistently means “lead” (cf. 1 Tim 3:5, 12; 5:17). The idea is that while people in the church are called to lead in very specific ways, others have leadership too—in being proactive believers in good works.

lead
Refer to the discussion on verse 8 above.